The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, Sept. 20 said the Delta variant of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is now the most common lineage in the country.
This as the Health department reported the detection of 319 additional Delta cases, 13 Alpha and 9 Beta cases in the latest whole genome sequencing of the Philippine Genome Center (PGC).
"Of the 12,530 sample sequence assigned with a lineage as of September 18, 24.2% of samples were positive for the Delta variant," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an online press briefing.
"This variant is now the most common lineage among sequence samples as of the latest full genome sequencing run," she added.
Vergeire said 21.8 percent of samples were positive for the Beta variant, and 19.6 percent positive for the Alpha variant.
She said all regions and all National Capital Region (NCR) city/municipality either have Alpha or Beta variants detected.
Vergeire added that the Delta variant is now detected in all 17 regions and all NCR city/municipality as well.
There were a total of 374 samples sequenced in the last run on Sept. 18.
Meanwhile, the DOH said national and some regions show a slowing down in the increase in cases.
The Health department, however, said that the national case classification and health systems capacity remain at high risk.
"Cases may still continue to increase in the next weeks due to the higher transmissibility of the Delta variant and as we continue active case finding in areas," Vergeire said.
Data provided by the DOH official showed the regions that are currently at high risk case classification due to high average daily attack rate (ADAR) and moderate two-week growth rates are NCR, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Caraga, Central Luzon, Davao Region, Ilocos Region, Soccsksargen, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Bicol Region.
"The rest of Luzon is at a continuous uptrend; NCR Plus areas are showing slight downward trend; while Mindanao and Visayas are at a plateau," said Vergeire.