Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire reported on Monday, September 20, 2021, an additional 319 cases of COVID-19 Delta variant have been detected in the Philippines.
According to Vergeire, of this number, 297 were local cases, 18 cases were Returning Overseas Filipino (ROF), while 4 cases are still being verified if local or the latter.
Vergeire also said that the Delta is now the “most common lineage” or dominant strain in the country.
Currently, there are 3,027 Delta cases or 24.16% of the total samples sequenced. It overtook the cases of Beta with 2,734 or 21.82% and 2,461 or 19.64% of Alpha cases.
As of now, the National Capital Region (NCR) and other regions “show a slowing down in the increase in cases” of COVID-19, Health Undersecretary said. “However, national case classification and health systems capacity remain at high risk.”
She expressed that COVID-19 cases “may still continue to increase in the next weeks due to higher transmissibility of Delta.”
Vergeire also cited that the highest fatality rate was observed in the age group 50 years old and above.
“Overall, the Delta variant has a case fatality rate of 2.48% and is twice as high in males than in females,” she added.