The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the first 10 Delta variant cases in Eastern Visayas, all categorized as local cases.
Of the 10 cases, five were detected in Borongan City, three in Can-avid, and one in Arteche; and one patient from Tacloban City in Leyte. Nine of them have fully recovered while one died of lung cancer, according to the DOH.
“We are conducting an investigation to find out how these patients got infected with Delta variant. These are considered as local cases since they have no travel history outside the region,” DOH Eastern Visayas regional director Exuperia Sabalberino said in a press briefing Thursday.
The 10 cases are part of 214 samples sent in three batches by the DOH field office to the Philippine Genome Center between June to July.
Only 53 samples from the region have been examined as of July 29. Samples taken are from areas with clustering of Covid-19 cases, according to the DOH.
“With the presence of Delta variant in our region, we urge our local government to intensify contact tracing up to third generation contacts. Isolate all close contacts whether they have symptoms or none,” Sabalberino said.
The official said the concerned variant is highly transmissible and could potentially overwhelm local health systems.
In Eastern Samar, the local government said all confirmed cases of Delta variant would be re-swabbed along with their first to second-generation contacts.
All of them, including third-generation contacts will be placed in isolation while awaiting the results of the re-swab test.
The DOH continues to appeal to the public to keep practicing the minimum public health standards and get vaccinated.
As of July 29, the region has recorded 35,697 Covid-19 cases, 33,775 recoveries and 420 deaths. This brings the total active cases to 1,502 or just 4.21 percent of the total. (PNA)
