By Teddy Cambosa
The country’s Department of Health (DOH), alongside the University of the Philippines – Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC), and the University of the Philippines – National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) today report the detection of four additional Delta (B.1.617.2) variant cases, 14 Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant cases, 21 Beta (B.1.351) variant cases, and one Theta (P.3) variant case based on the latest whole-genome sequencing report.
On the Delta variant cases, three of them have originated from returning OFW workers from the ship MV Eastern Hope, which was docked in South Korea. These passengers came to the country by the 3rd of June this year. Meanwhile, the other patient is a returning OFW worker from Saudi Arabia last 24 May. In total, there are 17 recorded cases of the Delta variant.
Meanwhile, of the additional 14 Alpha variant cases detected, 12 are local cases while two are being verified as to whether these are local or a returning OFW cases. Based on the case line list, two cases have died and 12 cases have been tagged as recovered. The Alpha variant cases now total 1,085.
Furthermore, of the additional 21 Beta variant cases detected, 20 are local cases while one case is being verified as to whether this is a local or a returning OFW case. Based on the case line list, 20 cases have been tagged as recovered and one case is currently active. The total Beta variant cases are now 1,267.
Lastly, the additional Theta variant case is currently being verified as to whether this is a local or ROF case. The case has already been tagged as recovered.
In its press statement, the DOH, UP-PGC, and UP-NIH assure the public that biosurveillance activities for the detection of COVID-19 variants shall continue amidst the increase in cases in Visayas and Mindanao. The procurement of reagents for whole genome sequencing for the rest of the year was initiated by a grant of PHP180 million by the DOH to the UP-PGC last May 2021.
Teddy Cambosa is a graduating BS Biology student and a former campus journalist at Batangas State University.
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