DOH monitoring transmissibility of Kappa variant of coronavirus

The Department of Health (DOH) is monitoring the transmissibility of a Delta sublineage, which was formerly known as Kappa variant, its official said Sunday.

The DOH has so far recorded the first COVID-19 case with B.1.617.1 variant in Floridablanca, Pampanga last November 8. 

"Itong Kappa naman, sublineage ng Delta variant at saka hindi pa masabi kung talagang ano siya... Kasi right now isang variant under monitoring. Tingnan pa natin... Mino-monitor ito in terms of transmissibility," said Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega over Dobol B TV.

(Kappa is a sublineage of the Delta variant and we still don't know its transmissibility. Right now, it is a variant under monitoring. It is being monitored in terms of transmissibility.)

He, likewise, warned people to not be complacent as there are still cases of the highly contagious Delta variant in  the country.

As of September 13, the Philippines detected 2,708 cases of the Delta variant. 

The OCTA Research group had warned that there could be a Delta resurge if COVID-19 boosters will not be given.

The Philippines' average number of fresh infections plummeted from over 20,000 in September 6 to 12 to 2,000 from November 1 to 7.

The DOH on Saturday recorded 1,997 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the nationwide tally to 2,815,080.

Of this number, 29,382 are active; 2,740,426 recovered; and 45,272 died. —KG, GMA News