CONFIRMED Delta variant cases in Davao Region rose to 28 after 15 specimens were detected to have been infected with the highly-infectious variant of the Sars-CoV-2, the virus causing Covid-19.
The Department of Health (DOH) reported on Monday, August 23, a total of 466 additional confirmed Covid-19 Delta cases in the country, including 11 from Davao Region.
DOH-Davao said in a press release on Tuesday, August 24, that one of the 11 delta variant cases detected is from the 169 specimens sent for Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS) last July 29, while the other four delta variant cases were from the 230 specimens sent for WGS last August 5, 2021. All 11 were reported to be local cases.
This is the highest number of reported Delta cases from a single batch since the region logged its first batch of confirmed Delta cases on July 24.
On top of these, four additional delta variant cases were also reported to have addresses in Davao Region. One is a Returning Overseas Filipino (ROF) tested in Manila, one ROF who was tested in Davao City, and two other cases whose profiles are still for verification.
DOH-Davao Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (Resu), together with the concerned local government units (LGUs), is currently conducting further investigation as to the status of the reported new cases.
All 15 will be scheduled for repeat reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.
As of Tuesday, August 24, a total of 28 Delta variant cases were recorded in the region. Among these, 16 are from Davao City, six are from Davao Oriental, four from Davao del Norte, one from Davao de Oro and one from Davao del Sur.
Meanwhile, DOH-Davao said a total of 2,787 specimens were sent from the region to University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC) for WGS and 124 of these were detected to have the Alpha variants, 281 were Beta variants.
"The regional office would still want to emphasize to the public that no single strategy is enough to beat this pandemic. Vaccination against Covid-19 coupled with the strict adherence to Minimum Public Health Standard will protect everyone from the dreadful complications of Covid-19," DOH-Davao said in the press release.
Patient profiles
Delta case number 14 is a 21-year-old female from Carmen, Davao del Norte. The patient was reported as a confirmed Covid-19 case on July 16 at Davao Regional Medical Center Molecular Laboratory.
Delta case number 15 is a 61-year-old male from Davao City. The patient was reported as a confirmed Covid-19 case on July 16 at Southern Philippines Medical Center-Subnational Laboratory-Molecular Biology Laboratory (SPMC-SNL-MBL).
Patient number 16 is a 63-year-old female from Caraga, Davao Oriental. The patient was reported as a confirmed Covid-19 case on July 18 at SPMC-SNL-MBL.
Patient number 17 is a 33-year-old male from Davao City. The patient was reported as a confirmed Covid-19 case on July 21, also at SPMC-SNL-MBL.
Delta case number 18 is a 53-year-old male from Baganga, Davao Oriental. The patient was reported as a confirmed Covid-19 case on July 27 at Vitalab Molecular Laboratory.
Delta case number 19 is a 44-year-old male from Davao city. The patient was reported as a confirmed Covid-19 case on July 30, still at Vitalab.
Patient number 20 is an 18-year-old female from Baganga, Davao Oriental, who was reported as a confirmed Covid-19 case on July 30, also at Vitalab.
Delta case 21 is a 22-year-old female from Lupon, Davao Oriental, who was reported as confirmed Covid-19 case on July 31 at Vitalab.
Delta case 22 is a 59-year-old female from Davao City, reported as confirmed Covid-19 case on July 31 at Vitalab.
Patient number 23 is a 20-year-old male from Davao City who was reported as confirmed Covid-19 case on August 2 at Davao International Airport Molecular Laboratory.
Delta case 24 is a 34-year-old male from Davao City who was reported as confirmed Covid-19 case on August 2 at Davao International Airport Molecular Laboratory.
Delta case 25 is a 57-year-old male, an ROF from Davao City who was reported as confirmed Covid-19 case on July 24 at SPMC-SNL-MBL.
Patient number 26 is a 38-year-old male ROF from Davao City who was reported as confirmed Covid-19 case on July 30 at First Aide Diagnostic Center in Manila.
Meanwhile, two specimens have yet to be verified.
Patient number 27 is a 33-year-old male from Davao City, reported as a confirmed Covid-19 case on August 1 at Supercare Medical Services, Manila.
Patient number 28 is a 48-year-old male from Davao City who was reported as a confirmed Covid-19 case on July 30, 2021 at Army General Hospital Molecular Laboratory, Manila.