640 new COVID-19 Delta variant cases detected, total infections at 2,708 –DOH

Logo of the Department of Health over a graphic representation of the SARS-COV 2, which causes coronavirus disease

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday reported 640 new COVID-19 Delta variant cases in the country, bringing total infections to 2,708.

Of the 640 new Delta variant cases, 584 are local cases and 52 were Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROF). Meanwhile, four cases are still being verified if they are local or ROF cases.

Of the 584 local cases, 112 indicated addresses in the National Capital Region, 52 in Cagayan Valley, 49 in Calabarzon, and two in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The DOH did not further indicate where the regions where the rest of the local cases are from.

“Based on the case line list, three cases are still active, 13 cases have died, while 624 cases have been tagged as recovered. Case details are being validated by the regional and local health offices,” the DOH said.

The DOH reminded the public to follow public health standards and urged them to get vaccinated.

3 other variants

The DOH likewise reported new infections from other COVID-19 variants.

The health department recorded 24 new Alpha variant cases—of which 23 were local cases and one was a ROF. Of the new Alpha cases, one died while 23 cases have been tagged as recovered.

A total of  2,448 Alpha variant cases have so far been recorded, the DOH said.

The DOH also reported 28 new Beta variant cases, all of which have recovered. The total Beta variant cases is now 2,725.

Five additional P.3 variant cases, who have also recovered, were also recorded by the health department.

“The UP-PGC (University of the Philippines – Philippine Genome Center) also announced that starting September 9 they will be scaling down their COVID-19 RT-PCR testing services to shift their resources on the detection of COVID-19 variants through whole genome sequencing,” the DOH said.

“The shift will lead to an expected increase in the sequencing capacity and detection of COVID-19 variant cases in the country in the succeeding months,” it added.

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