DAGUPAN CITY -- If the rapid transmission of COVID-19 in Pangasinan will be looked into, the higher infection rate of the virus being felt might be attributed to the spread of Delta variant in the community.
This was bared by Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) medical director Dr. Joseph Roland Mejia when asked about the surging cases of COVID-19 in Pangasinan, during a recent radio interview.
Based on the data of the Provincial Health Office (PHO), Pangasinan has 23 confirmed Delta variant cases wherein 22 are considered clinically-recovered while the other one has succumbed to death.
In a separate interview, PHO chief Dr. Anna Ma. Teresa de Guzman said two of the confirmed Delta variant cases were from Manila and Bulacan while the other cases were locally transmitted.
Mejia said the public should take the Delta variant seriously because aside from higher transmission rate, it could also possibly cause severe effects to an individual especially with underlying health conditions.
“Kung titingnan natin itong mabilis na transmission ng virus ngayon kumpara noon, Delta variant na ito kaya hindi dapat natin ginagawang biro (f we look at the fast transmission of the virus now compared to the past, this is Delta variant which we should take this seriously” he said.
Mejia said he warned the public as well as the local chief executives in Pangasinan to review the implementation of the quarantine protocols but he was not listened to.
“Nagbabala na tayo noon, pero medyo hindi nila pinakinggan kung kaya’t ito ang nangyari—dumami nang dumami ang kaso natin (We warned them before but they did not listen that’s why this is happening now – cases are rising),” he said.