The more transmissible Delta coronavirus disease (COVID-19) variant presents "changing" symptoms, the University of the Philippines National Institutes of Health (UP NIH) said Wednesday, June 23.

UP NIH Executive Director Eva dela Paz said the Delta variant that was first detected in India is more dangerous as it causes more hospitalizations.
Dela Paz added that while the classic signs of COVID-19 have been the loss of taste or smell, a persistent cough, and a fever, the symptoms of the Delta strain can feel "more like a bad cold" for younger people.
She added that headaches are among the most common symptoms of the variant.
However, Dela Paz maintained that vaccines against COVID-19 are still effective against the Delta variant.
"We really need to encourage our countrymen to get vaccinated because even though there are new variants coming out, it is still shown that vaccines are still effective, especially once they already completed their second dose," Dela Paz stressed in an interview with TeleRadyo.
"By vaccinating, we can reduce our cases and we will no longer give the virus a chance to mutate," she added.
The Philippines has so far recorded 17 cases of the Delta variant.