QC looks into possible local spread of COVID-19 Delta variant

FILE PHOTO: Facade of the Quezon City Hall.

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City is looking into a possible case of local transmission of the COVID-19 Delta variant in the locality.

According to the local government, its epidemiology and surveillance unit (CESU) has received information that a male individual residing in another city but works in a factory in Quezon City has contracted the highly contagious variant of  COVID-19 and that the man’s pregnant wife also tested positive for the coronavirus.

For this, Quezon City is coordinating with another local government regarding the possible local transmission of the variant while the CESU has conducted contact tracing and swabbing at the individuals’ place of work since Saturday.

“There is no reported case yet at his place of work but we are doing this as a preventive measure to make sure we contain its transmission this early,” CESU head Dr. Roland Cruz said in a statement.

The city government,  citing available information, said the factory worker experienced shortness of breath, colds, fever, and sore throat on July 4 and tested positive for the coronavirus the day after.

The man was admitted to Philippine General Hospital on July 5 and discharged on July 18. His wife, who was asymptomatic, was tested on July 8 and turned out positive the next day. She tested positive again on July 17, it added.

They are staying at a quarantine facility in another city until the end of the month, the city government further said.

Currently, the Philippines has a total of 119 Delta variant cases, including 78 local cases.

The Department of Health confirmed last week the local transmission of the COVID-19 Delta variant in the country.

KGA