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“Four times more infectious” COVID-19 Delta variant detected in the Philippines

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Molecular epidemiologist Dr. Edsel Maurice Salvana reports on the newfound COVID-19 Delta variant on the weekly briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte. | Photo Source: Presidential Communications on Facebook

By Regina Elaine Vendivil

The COVID-19 Delta (B.1.617.2) variant, which has caused the surge of infections in India, has been detected in the Philippines, with 17 cases as of Monday, June 21, according to the data from the Department of Health (DOH). 

The highly contagious variant, which was first identified in India in late 2020, is now the dominant strain in countries such as the United Kingdom. UK’s planned reopening was delayed due to the rise of cases. 

During the taped weekly briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte last Monday, infectious diseases expert Dr. Edsel Maurice Salvana reported that the Delta variant is 60 percent more infectious than the Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant first reported in the United Kingdom. 

“So it’s up to four times more contagious than the original virus from Wuhan. So this will really be a big disaster if we do not keep it out of the country,” Salvana said.

Despite the increase in the infection rate, DOH assured the public that the currently available COVID-19 vaccines remain effective against the variant. 

“The WHO (World Health Organization) and our experts are saying even if these variants affect our vaccines, it does not mean that their efficacies against symptomatic infections are now 0%,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing last Monday. 

In an interview with DZBB radio, Chief of the Adult Infectious Diseases and Tropical Unit at the San Lazaro Hospital Dr. Rontgene Solante stated that there is no community transmission in the Philippines yet. 

“Maybe we should wait for the results of the genomic surveillance being conducted at the Philippine Genome Center to also see how wide the variants are spreading here in the Philippines,” Solante added.

Due to the “potential global dominance” of the Delta variant, Duterte still opposes the resumption of face-to-face classes as he said, “I cannot gamble on the health of the children.”

Currently, a “10+4” quarantine scheme for the people entering the Philippines has been presented by Salvana to prevent the widespread of the virus and protect the local residents from people coming from other countries. 

This means that they will not be tested right away upon arrival. Instead, they will have to go through a 10-day quarantine and will then be tested on the seventh day, which according to Salvan, is a better time to detect the virus.

After this, they will undergo four more days of home quarantine. 

For COVID-19 updates, visit https://doh.gov.ph

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