Cases of COVID-19 variant of concern rising in Bicol — DOH

LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Health (DOH) has expressed concern over the increasing number of cases of the highly transmissible Delta variant in Bicol, believed to be the cause of the rise in COVID-19 cases in the region.

A DOH report said additional 28 cases of COVID-19 variants of concern (VOC) have been recorded in Bicol, of which 19 cases were Delta (B.1.617.2), followed by Beta (B.1.351) with five cases, and the Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant with four cases.

The newly recorded cases have brought to 134 VOCs registered by DOH-Bicol as of Wednesday, September 6.

The provinces with the significant number of VOC cases was Camarines Sur with 50 cases, followed by Albay (28), Masbate (20), Catanduanes (14), Sorsogon (12), and Camarines Norte (10).

The new VOCs cases were based on the genomic sequencing result from the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) received by the Bicol Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) on September 3.

Dr. Ernie Vera, DOH regional director, said the region is also experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, at an average of 300 cases a day.

Vera was worried that the three main COVID-19 referral hospitals in the region were starting to get filled up, namely, the Bicol Regional Teaching, and Training Hospital (BRTTH) in Legazpi City, the Bicol Medical Center (BMC) in Naga City and the Cabusao Sanitarium in Camarines Sur.

DOH data indicated that of the 1,030 beds allocated for coronavirus patients, 330 beds or 32 percent were already occupied.

DOH has renewed its call to the public to cooperate by following the minimum public health standards, which are still the best preventive measures against all variants and mutations of COVID-19, and to refrain from attending all forms of social gatherings and avoid poorly ventilated rooms.

JPV