NASALSWAB A health worker performs a swab test. —FILE PHOTO/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — Health authorities have detected the local transmission of the highly infectious Delta COVID-19 variant in the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) announced Thursday night.
This was found through phylogenetic analysis conducted by the Philippine Genome Center and case investigation by the DOH Epidemiology Bureau and the regional and local epidemiology and surveillance units, DOH said.
“Clusters of Delta variant cases were seen to be linked to other local cases, therefore, exhibiting local transmission,” it said.
DOH said the government has initiated “enhanced COVID-18 response in areas where Delta variant cases were detected.
“Both the national and local governments have been continuously working together to intensify the implementation of the prevent, detect, isolate, treat, and re-integrate response strategies and increase the country’s health system capacity to be able to manage cases,” it said.
DOH likewise assured that the government has been ensuring that there are enough COVID-19-dedicated wards, ICUs, and isolation beds in the country. It is also preparing enough supplies of medicine, oxygen tanks, and critical care in equipments in hospitals and augmentation of human resources.
The health agency reminded the public to continue following strict public health protocols to stem the spread of the virus, as well as avoid unnecessary travels and gatherings.
It also urged local government units to ramp up their vaccination and prioritize senior citizens and persons with comorbidities.
The DOH emphasized the need to continuously enforce strict border controls and local COVID-19 response with the local transmission of the variant.
The government has been implementing travel bans and strict border controls to prevent the entry of the variant.
The DOH earlier reported 12 more local cases of the Delta variant, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 47.