The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday confirmed that community transmission of the highly contagious Delta coronavirus variant is now being observed in Metro Manila and Calabarzon.
In a media briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said 'further evidence' is needed to confirm community transmissions in the said areas.
"So currently, we have seen and observed, especially in NCR and Region 4A, na talagang mukhang community transmission na ito,” Vergeire said.
"Nakita natin na wala nang link ang mga kaso sa bawat isa. We are seeing a clustering of cases in this two big regions kaya iyan po ay isang bagay na pinagtutuunan natin ng pansin sa ngayon," he added.
Currently, Metro Manila and Laguna province has been placed under more relaxed modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until the end of the month after two weeks of observing an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
More Delta variant cases
On Monday, the DOH reported 466 new cases of the highly transmissible COVID-19 Delta variant, bringing the total number of infections to 1,273.
Of the newest cases, 442 are local,14 are returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs), and 10 are currently undergoing verification.
The DOH said local cases were detected in the following areas:
- Metro Manila (201 cases)
- Central Luzon (69 cases)
- Cagayan Valley (7 cases)
- Calabarzon (49 cases)
- Mimaropa (14 cases)
- Bicol Region (4 cases)
- Western Visayas (52 cases)
- Central Visayas (19 cases)
- Northern Mindanao (6 cases)
- Davao Region (11 cases)
- SOCCSKSARGEN (7 cases)
- Ilocos Region (3 cases)
Among the 466 new infections, the DOH said only one remains active, eight have died, and 457 have been tagged as recovered.
