Duque: No evidence but we need to assume local transmission of Delta variant

There is a need to presume that there is already a local transmission of the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Thursday.

Duque made the remark after the Philippines detected 12 more local cases of the Delta variant, bringing the total in the country to 47.

"We need to assume na meron nang local transmission. But there is no evidence to establish," Duque said.

"We are doing everything to improve our response, to increase our capacities, more beds, more ICU beds, more oxygen tanks," he added.

The DOH said three of the new Delta variant cases were from Metro Manila, six were from Region 3, two were from Calabarzon, and one was from Region 5.

“All cases have been tagged as recovered but their outcomes are being validated by our regional and local health offices,” the DOH said.

The DOH said an “enhanced response” was needed in areas where new Delta variant cases were detected as well as in other areas seeing an uptick in infections “with the premise that there may be ongoing local transmission already.” —NB, GMA News