The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, July 20, reported that there were eight active cases of COVID-19 Delta Variant (B.1.617.2) in the Philippines.
Following this, some Local Government Units (LGUs) in Metro Manila are preparing for the worse-case scenario, as well as some provinces in the country and implement tightened restrictions in their area.
President Rodrigo Duterte eyeing stricter restrictions because of the reported local cases of Delta Variant in the country and said that it’s a “cause of serious alarm and concern.”
“We may need to impose stricter restrictions to avoid mass gatherings and prevent super spreader event.” Duterte said in his weekly Talk to the People.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing today, July 21, that according to experts, the Delta variant is 40%-60% more transmissible over the Alpha variant of COVID-19. The study showed that if a case with Alpha can infect 4-5 people, those infected with Delta variant can infect up to 8 people.
Roque also said that the complete doses of vaccines against COVID-19 are still effective even with the Delta Variant.
“Despite the increase in cases, Public Health England demonstrated that two doses of AstraZeneca vaccines are still 92% effective against hospitalization and showed no deaths due to the Delta variant,” according to the report of Spox Roque.
Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing that the one (1) active case is from NCR, one (1) in Misamis Oriental, two (2) are Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and four (4) are from Cagayan De Oro.
DOH revealed that the said eight individuals are recently tagged as recovered, but after a 14-day isolation, the recoveries are tested positive again.
Confirmed cases of the highly-transmissible Delta variant in the country has now reach a total of 35. Eight are active cases, while three have died.
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