QC reports first COVID-19 Delta variant case

FILE PHOTO: Colorized scanning electron micrograph of an apoptotic cell (red) infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (yellow), also known as novel coronavirus, isolated from a patient sample. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH/Handout via REUTERS.

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government on Monday reported that a resident of the city had contracted the COVID-19 Delta variant, its first case of the virulent coronavirus mutation that originated in India.

The local government, however, clarified that the resident, who is a returning overseas Filipino worker from Saudi Arabia, did not contract the Delta variant in the city as there is no local transmission of the variant yet in the area.

This is the first known case of the highly transmissible Delta variant in the city, which last year had posted one of the highest cases of coronavirus among local government units in Metro Manila.

The local government said the 34-year-old male OFW arrived in the country on June 24, stayed in a hotel in Makati City for 10 days before transferring to another hotel in Manila from July 4 to 11.

The QC government said the patient experienced a slightly itchy throat on June 28 and was swabbed on June 30.

He was considered recovered and was allowed to go home to his family on July 11, the government added.

The result of the sequenced sample of the resident was received by the city government on Sunday evening and it arranged for another round of swab tests for the male OFW and his close family contacts on Monday.

The city government assured that he and his family are under home quarantine since Sunday night.

“He will undergo another swab test, along with his family, as part of our protocol even if he is considered a recovered patient. We are doing extensive contact tracing on his close contacts just to make sure,” City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) head Dr. Rolly Cruz said in a statement.

QC mayor Joy Belmonte expressed confidence that the local government is capable of handling the case.

“We have put in place measures in preparation for the Delta variant and we continue to exert all effort to contain its possible spread. What is important is that we are our doing extensive testing and aggressive contact tracing,” she said.

EDV