OCTA fears local transmission of COVID-19 Delta variant

The ultrastructural morphology exhibited by the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China, is seen in an illustration released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. January 29, 2020.  (MAM/CDC/Handout via REUTERS)

MANILA, Philippines — There could already be local transmission of the highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19 in the country after the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed 11 local cases of the said variant, the OCTA Research said Monday.

“Malamang may local transmission na ‘yan. Meron na ‘yan kasi may local cases na tayo na walang travel history,” Professor Guido David said over ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

(There could be local transmission already because there are local cases without travel history.)

The DOH earlier said that the first 19 cases of the Delta variant in the country were detected at the country’s borders.

On Friday, however, the health department announced the detection of 16 more cases of the variant, including 11 local cases.

This brings the total number of Delta variant in the country to 35.

The DOH has yet to confirm whether or not there is local transmission of the variant in the Philippines, saying that the local cases have not yet been linked to other Delta cases.

Proactive approach; ‘bubble’ safety

David, however, advised the public to not wait for the announcement of the DOH before taking extra precautions.

“Para sa akin, kahit hindi na natin hintayin ‘yung confirmation na ‘yun. I-assume na lang natin na may Delta variant somewhere sa Pilipinas. Kailangan maging proactive na tayo,” he said.

(For me, it is better to not wait for that confirmation. Let us just assume there is Delta variant somewhere in the Philippines. We have to be proactive already.)

“Baka may pagkalat na ‘yung Delta variant sa bansa natin pero hindi natin alam kung nasaan siya,” he added.
(The Delta variant could be spreading but we just do not know where.)

David also noted that the implementation of bubbles, especially in the NCR Plus composed of Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Batangas and Bulacan, would help prevent the further spread of Delta variant in other areas.  

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