The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, July 5, reported the detection of additional cases of two Delta (B.1.617.2) variant cases.
Together with the University of the Philippines - Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC), and the University of the Philippines - National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), the DOH also reported the detection of 132 Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant cases, 119 Beta (B.1.351) variant cases, and three Theta (P.3) variant cases.
The Health department said the two new Delta variant cases are Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs) with travel history from Saudi Arabia.
"Both arrived in the Philippines on May 29, 2021 and have completed the requisite 10-day isolation period. They have been discharged from the quarantine facility after being tagged as recovered," it said in a statement.
Of the additional 132 Alpha variant cases detected, the DOH said, 125 are local cases, one is an ROF, and six are being verified as to whether these are local or ROF cases.
"Based on the case line list, 15 cases have died and 117 cases have been tagged as recovered. The Alpha variant cases now total 1,217," it said.
The DOH said of the additional 119 Beta variant cases detected, 111 are local cases, two are ROFs, and six cases are being verified as to whether these are local or ROF cases.
It added that based on the case line list, three cases are currently active, 104 cases have been tagged as recovered, and 12 cases have died.
"The total Beta variant cases are now 1,386," said DOH.
With regard to the additional three Theta variant cases, the Health department said these are local cases and have already been tagged as "recovered."
"Currently, the Theta variant is not identified as a variant of concern (VOC) since more data is needed to conclude whether the variant will have significant public health implications," the DOH said.
The Health department reminded all fully vaccinated individuals to continue following the prescribed minimum public health standards to ensure that transmission of COVID-19 is minimized.
It added that mass gatherings are especially discouraged regardless of vaccination status, saying "these are the main drivers of outbreaks among unvaccinated persons in countries with relatively high vaccination rates."