DOH detects additional 339 Delta variant cases

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday reported an additional 339 cases of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus, taking the nationwide tally to 3,366.

In an online briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the new Delta cases were detected from 748 sequenced samples, which included those taken from April to June.

The latest genome sequencing run also showed 186 Beta variant cases, 98 Alpha variant cases, nine P.3 variant cases, and one Gamma variant case.

Vergeire said 609 of the 633 variant cases were local cases while 17 were returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs). Seven cases are currently being verified whether they are local or ROF cases.

She also said 616 variant cases have recovered and 10 have died. There are five active cases, while the status of two other cases is still being determined.

The cumulative number of variant cases is as follows: Delta (3,366), Alpha (2,559), Beta (2,920), P.3 (461), and Gamma (three).

The Delta variant is now the most common lineage among sequenced samples of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, according to the department.

The Philippines has so far reported 2.52 million COVID-19 cases, including 37,686 deaths. — RSJ, GMA News