Filtered By: Topstories
News

2 more Delta variant cases detected among returning Pinoys


The Philippines on Monday detected two more cases of the more transmissible Delta variant in returning overseas Filipinos.

In a statement, the Department of Health (DOH) said the new cases were detected by University of the Philippines Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC), and the University of the Philippines National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH)  after a genome sequencing of 7,878 COVID-19-positive samples.

The two additional Delta variant cases were from Filipinos who returned from Saudi Arabia. Both arrived in the Philippines on May 29, 2021 and have completed a 10-day isolation period.

"They have been discharged from the quarantine facility after being tagged as recovered," DOH said.

These new cases raised the total Delta variant cases in the country to 19.

The health department previously said there are still no local infections of the more contagious Delta variant. 

Aside from this, health authorities also discovered 132 more Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant cases, increasing the tally to 1,217.

Of the 132 new cases, 125 are local cases, one returning Filipino, and six with unknown origin.

15 cases of the Alpha variant have so far died and 117 cases were classified as recovered.

Meanwhile, Beta variant cases in the country soared to 1,386, with 119 new ones. Of these, 111 are local cases, two are returning overseas Filipinos, and the remaining six cases are still being verified.

"Based on the case line list, three cases are currently active, 104 cases have been tagged as recovered, and 12 cases have died," DOH indicated.

Meanwhile, the case tally for the Theta variant—or the P.3 variant, first detected in the Philippines—reached 166, with three additional cases. The three are local cases that have been classified as recoveries.

"Currently, the Theta variant is not identified as a variant of concern (VOC) since more data is needed to conclude whether the variant will have significant public health implications," the DOH also said. — Consuelo Marquez/BM, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT