First Delta variant case recorded in Malaybalay, Bukidnon

The city of Malaybalay in Bukidnon province has reported its first COVID-19 Delta variant case, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) reported.

City Health Officer Dr. Dennis Sangalang revealed in a radio interview on Thursday that the individual is a resident of Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental and was just visiting relatives in Barangay San Martin in Malabayalay last July 20.

The patient was asymptomatic when she underwent the RT-PCR or swab test.

“She tested positive of COVID-19 and was isolated in one of the facilities here. She fully recovered on August 1—after staying in quarantine for 14 days. However, when the Genome Sequencing Test result was released recently, it showed that the case was a Delta variant,” Sanggalang was quoted as saying.

He added that the patient was tested again.

“Our contact-tracing team is now intensifying the ‘2nd and 3rd generation’ tracing to make sure that those who were in contact with the Delta virus carrier are self-monitoring and have not developed symptoms,” he said.

Sanggalang advised residents to take extreme caution and that the Delta variant is more aggressive and can severely infect those who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19, especially the senior citizens and persons with chronic disease. -- BAP, GMA News