DOH Calabarzon orders mass swab testing after confirming 36 cases of Delta variant

The Department of Health (DOH)-Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) ordered on Thursday, July 29, mass swab testing in different areas in the region after it confirmed a total of 36 cases of the virulent Delta variant of COVID-19.

DOH Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo said they have already deployed epidemiology and health emergency teams to affected communities to conduct mass swab testing.

“We need to immediately identify the causes of the virus, how it originates and how it was transmitted in order to stop its spread in the communities,” he said.

“Samples taken from the contacts of the positive cases were already sent to the Philippine Genome Center for validation. What is important right now is for everyone not to panic and continue to follow community health protocols and most important is to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.”

Among the provinces which reported cases of the Delta variant were Cavite, with 9 cases, particularly in Imus, Cavite City, General Trias, Silang and Carmona; Laguna with 17 cases in the towns of Bay, Los Baños, San Pedro, San Pablo and Calamba City.

Meanwhile Batangas recorded 6 cases in the municipalities of Bauan, Lemery, San Juan and Lipa City.

Rizal had four cases in Cainta and Rodriguez, while the province of Quezon remained Delta variant free.

However, in the 36 cases, 21 have recovered, 11 are for verification, 3 are active cases and 1 with pending test result.

“Kahit ano pang brand ang mayroon sa ating mga lokal na pamahalaan, magpabakuna po tayo. Ang importante ay magkaroon tayo ng karadagang proteksyon upang kung tayo man ay mahawa at magkaroon ng virus, hindi po tayo makakaranas ng “severe COVID condition,” Janairo said.

(Whatever brand of vaccine is available in our local government, we encourage the public to get vaccinated. It is important to get extra protection, so that in case we get infected we would not experience the severe COVID condition.)

A person with Delta variant experiences cold with the absence of cough, loss of sense of smell, fever and fatigue.

Persons with co-morbidity or those with underlying medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, senior citizens, and very young children are among the susceptible population that are most likely to acquire the Delta variant.

“The DOH regional office, together with the local governments of the affected communities are constantly working and conducting health assessment, case investigation and contract tracing to ensure the health and safety of the public.”

“Doblehin po natin ang pag-iingat lalo na po sa ating paglabas ng ating mga tahanan. Pangalagaan po natin ang ating kalusugan at mga sarili upang tayo ay maging ligtas kasama na ang ating mga mahal sa buhay,” Janairo told the public.

(Let us be double our efforts to be careful, especially when going out of our houses. Take care of our health for our own safety and those of our loved ones.) – Rappler.com