MISAMIS ORIENTAL (PIA)—The Department of Health (DOH)-10 issued a warning to those unvaccinated individuals, especially the senior citizens and persons with chronic disease or comorbidities, that they might be severely infected by the Delta variant of COVID-19.

In an emergency press conference with the Mindanao Task Force for COVID-19 on Saturday, Northern Mindanao health authorities described Delta strain as having the strength to double transmissibility when compared to other existing variants of coronavirus.

Dr. David Mendoza, Local Health Support Division Chief of DOH-10 said the Delta variant is more aggressive and can severely infect those who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19, especially the senior citizens and persons with chronic disease.

"If the Alpha and Beta variants can generate fifty percent increase in transmissibility, the delta is twice as that. If the Alpha, Beta, and Theta can infect 2-3 persons, the Delta variant can infect 6-8 or twice of what the other variants can infect," he said.

Unlike the symptoms in the Alpha, Beta, and Theta variants—which are loss of taste or smell—Mendoza said that the Delta symptom mimics ordinary influenza-like signs such as fever, flu, or diarrhea.

Despite the fact that the six reported positive cases have recovered, the health department is now taking rigorous measures to avoid the reoccurrence of the Delta strain.

Mendoza emphasized that anybody who exhibits a symptom would be transported to isolation facilities to be tested, observed, and quarantined for 14 days.

“As protection against the Delta variant, the government urges all the senior citizens and those who have a chronic disease or persons with comorbidities to get their jabs against COVID-19. There is no need to be afraid of the vaccines since it is already proven to be safe, effective, and free of charge,” he said. (JAKA/PIA10)