A 33-YEAR-OLD male Filipino from Davao City was identified as the ninth Delta variant-positive case in Davao Region, the Department of Health-Davao Region (DOH-Davao) confirmed.
In a press release on Friday, August 13, 2021, DOH-Davao said the one additional Delta case was detected from batch 29 specimens from the region as reported by the University of the Philippines –Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC).
DOH-Davao said the patient was swabbed and tested positive at Southern Philippines Medical Center-Molecular Biology Laboratory last July 5, 2021.
He was discharged on July 17. On July 19, he was then swabbed and tested negative, and already tagged as recovered.
“To date, we have a total of 352 detected variants of concern cases. The DOH Davao Center for Health Development has submitted a total of 2506 specimens for WGS at UP-PGC,” DOH-Davao said.
DOH on Thursday, August 12, reported additional 177 Delta variant cases in the country, wherein 144 are local cases. Of the 144 local cases, one was detected in Davao Region.
The Delta variant, which is believed to be driving this fresh surge in Covid-19 cases nationwide, can be transmitted to up to eight people at one time. It contains mutations that cause a higher viral load and raises the risk of hospitalization and death.
This is the sixth Delta case in Davao City, five are local cases, while one is a returning overseas Filipino from Zambia, Africa.
Other Delta cases were recorded in the region are from Tagum City and Carmen in Davao del Norte, and Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur.
All of the Delta positive cases are already tagged as recovered.
DOH-Davao reiterated its call for the public to continuously comply with the minimum health protocols, and for them to have themselves vaccinated once it is their turn.
“The Department of Health strongly encourages the public to get vaccinated when it’s your turn. Vaccines provide protection from severe infection caused by any variants and prevent hospitalization,” DOH-Davao said in a statement.
