DOH confirms 119 more cases of COVID-19 Delta variant pushing tally to 450

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MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) reported on Friday 119 additional COVID-19 Delta variant cases, increasing the total to 450.

Of the latest Delta variant cases detected, 93 are local cases and 20 are Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROF). According to DOH, authorities are still trying to verify if the six other cases are local or ROF cases.

Meanwhile, of the 93 local cases, 18 had an indicated address in Metro Manila while 14 had indicated addresses in Calabarzon, 18 in Central Luzon, 31 in Western Visayas, eight in Northern Mindanao, and one each in Central Visayas, Eastern Samar, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Cordillera Administrative Region.

“Based on the case line list, 118 cases have been tagged as recovered while one has an outcome that is being verified. All other information is being validated by our regional and local health offices,” the DOH said in a statement.

A patient with the Delta variant—first discovered in India—can infect five to eight persons, according to health authorities.

Aside from the Delta variant, the DOH also reported the detection of another 125 Alpha variant cases, 94 Beta variant cases, and 11 Theta variant cases based on the latest batch of whole-genome sequencing.

Of the additional Alpha variant cases, 115 are local cases, six are ROF, and four are currently being verified if they are local or ROF cases. Based on data, three cases have died and 122 have recovered. The total cases of the Alpha variant, first discovered in the United Kingdom, is now at 2,093.

Of the additional Beta variant cases, 89 are local cases, three are ROFs, and two cases are currently being verified if they are local or ROF cases. DOH said that seven cases have died while 87 cases have recovered. The total cases of the Beta variant, first detected in South Africa, are now at 2,362.

Meanwhile, the DOH said all additional cases of the Theta variant, first reported in the Philippines, are local cases that have already recovered.

The Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Delta (B.1.617.2), and Theta (P.3) are just several variants of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus first detected in China’s Wuhan province in late 2019. SARS-CoV-2 causes the serious respiratory illness COVID-19.

Other variants of SARS-CoV-2 are, among others, Gamma (P.1), first detected in Brazi, and Lambda (C.37), first discovered in Peru.

So far, the World Health Organization tagged the Delta, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma as variants of concern or VOCs.

Mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 result in new variants of the new coronavirus.

KGA