The number of cases of the highly contagious Delta variant increased in Pateros, the smallest local government unit (LGU) in Metro Manila.
Based on a report presented by Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire during the “Laging Handa” online briefing on Sept. 14, the number of Delta variant cases in Pateros rose to 17 based on the latest sequencing run.
This is an increase of five cases from 12 Delta variant cases listed by the Department of Health as of Aug. 27. The Delta variant is a strain of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
In previous reports, the DOH used the label “Total Delta Variant Cases” in presenting the table for the NCR but changed it to “Variant of Concern Presence.”
As of Sept. 10, Pateros had 695 active COVID-19 cases including 61 new cases out of 6,546 confirmed cases, 5,772 recoveries, and 79 deaths. Of the total, 665 were placedunder isolation and 30 are scheduled for isolation.
Based on Vergeire’s latest report, Pateros is classified as “moderate risk” based on the moving two-week growth rate (TWGR) and moving average daily attack rate (ADAR) of COVID-19.
Starting Sept. 16, Pateros and the rest of the National Capital Region (NCR) will be pilot testing the new alert level system for COVID-19 response.
The NCR will be under Alert Level 4 from Sept. 16. Level 4 “refers to areas wherein case counts are high and/or increasing, with total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate at high utilization,” according to the resolution by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Pateros Mayor Miguel “Ike” Ponce III had earlier backed a proposal to ease rules for vaccinated individuals.