(UPDATED) The Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday, August 15, 2021, reported the first coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) case with the Lambda variant in the country and 182 additional Delta variant cases in 11 regions.
The latest genome sequencing run by the University of the Philippines - Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC) also detected 41 Alpha variant cases, 66 Beta variant cases and 40 P.3 variant cases.
In a statement, the DOH said the Lambda variant case is a 35-year-old female who was asymptomatic and has been tagged as recovered after 10 days in isolation.
The DOH is still verifying whether she is a returning overseas Filipino or a local case. Back tracing and case investigation are also being conducted.
The Lambda variant (C.37), which was first detected in Peru in August 2020, is classified as a variant of interest by the World Health Organization because of its potential to affect the transmissibility of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. It is being monitored for its possible clinical significance.
Delta
The 182 additional Delta cases (B.1.617.2) were detected in National Capital Region (42), Central Luzon (36), Calabarzon (8), Mimaropa (6), Northern Mindanao (6), Central Visayas (4), Davao Region (3), Caraga (3), Western Visayas (2), Cordillera Administrative Region (1) and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (1).
This brought the total Delta variant cases to 807, after the removal of two cases in the NCR that were reported last August 4 and later validated to be Beta variant cases.
Four of the 182 newly detected cases died, raising the death toll from the Delta variant to 17.
One case is still active, bringing the total active Delta cases to 14, while 176 have been tagged as recovered, raising the total recoveries from Delta to 771.
The DOH said 112 of the newly detected cases are local, 36 are ROFs and 34 were under verification.
Other variants
The 41 additional Alpha variant cases brought the total to 2,232, after the removal of two cases that were reclassified as Beta variant and two duplicates.
Two of the 41 newly detected cases died, bringing the number of mortalities from the Alpha variant to 125.
The DOH also said 36 cases have been tagged as recovered, bringing the total recoveries from Alpha to 2,083. The outcome of three cases is being verified.
The 41 cases consist of 38 local cases, one ROF case and two under verification.
There are still 19 active Alpha cases nationwide, the DOH reported.
The 66 newly detected Beta variant cases brought the total to 2,483, after the removal of four duplicates.
Two patients died, raising the deaths from Beta to 85, while 63 have recovered, bringing the recoveries to 2,372, and the outcome of one case is being verified.
Of the 66, 56 are local cases and 10 cases are being verified whether ROF or local.
There remained 18 active Beta cases, the UP-PGC report showed.
Meanwhile, there are now 347 P.3 cases, including six cases previously detected to have non-VOC lineages that were reclassified as P.3.
Of the 40 additional P.3 variant cases, 37 are local cases and three cases are being verified. All cases have been tagged as recovered.
A total of 11,173 samples have been sequenced as of August 12, comprising 0.64 percent of the total confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country.
The Delta variant, which has been found to be the most transmissible among these Sars-CoV-2 variants, is believed to be driving transmission.
It has been detected in 14 regions, 24 provinces, 30 cities and in the entire NCR.
All 17 regions have cases caused by either the Alpha or Beta variant while the P.3 has spread to 14 regions. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)