No local cases of Delta COVID-19 variant in the Philippines so far, according to an expert from UP – NIH
On Saturday, an expert from the University of the Philippines – National Institutes of Health (UP – NIH) said that no local cases of Delta COVID-19 variant had been detected in the Philippines so far.
UP – NIH executive director Dr. Eva Maria dela Paz said at the “Laging Handa” public briefing that the 17 cases of Delta COVID-19 variant reported in the Philippines were foreign travelers.
“Lahat sila ay galing sa incoming international travelers. Wala pa pong tayong naitalang local cases as of our last sequencing,” Dela Paz said.
Dela Paz also said that the Delta COVID-19 variant was 60% more transmissible compared to Alpha COVID-19 variant, which was already 40% more transmissible than the regular COVID-19 variant.
She added that those who were infected by the Delta COVID-19 variant have more severe conditions.
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According to Dela Paza, it was reported that COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and AstraZeneca were still effective as protection against the COVID-19 at around 60% to 80% with two doses.
The Delta COVID-19 variant was causing a surge in new coronavirus cases even in countries with high vaccination rates, while experts warned that immunization campaigns were in a race against time to contain it.
Meanwhile, World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the highly-contagious COVID-19 variant was a concern around the world.
“Globally, there is currently a lot of concern about the Delta variant — and WHO is concerned about it too. As some countries ease public health and social measures, we are starting to see increases in transmission around the world,” he said.
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