Delta variant detected in all regions except CARAGA, Lambda case found in Region 6 - DOH

The highly transmissible COVID-19 Delta variant is now present in all regions of the Philippines except CARAGA according to the Department of Health (DOH).

DOH Undersecretary Rosette Vergeire also reported that the first recorded case of the Lambda variant was from Region 6.

"Lahat po ng regions, based on the recent run, meron na, pero ang CARAGA wala pa kaming nadedetect," she shared. "But it doesn't mean that they do not have the variant."

Vergeire said that the three Delta cases the DOH reported in a recent press release are returning overseas workers who indicated that their hometown was in CARAGA.

"'Di natin siya i-classify as a local case dahil returning overseas sila and 'di pa sila nakakabalik sa CARAGA. Sila ay naka-isolate pa lang dito sa national facility natin," she clarified.

There are still more cases of Alpha and Beta variants than the Delta strain in the country based on the overall number of cases sequenced. But based on the latest run, Vergeire reports that out of the 338 samples, almost 50% of the samples have the Delta strain. 

"Makikita natin na ang proportion ng Delta variant dito sa bansa, based on this initial and very rough analysis, ay mukhang tumataas talaga," she said.

Following the detection of the first Lambda case in the country, Vergeire noted that the new strain is still a variant of interest and not classified as a variant of concern as of yet.

The Lambda case detected is a 35-year-old female who experienced no symptoms and has been tagged recovered. She was diagnosed last July 22 and the DOH said all contact tracing and precautionary measures have been done.