CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) — Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire clarified Friday, July 23, that the reported five cases in the Calabarzon region are cumulative and that only the cases in Calamba City in Laguna are considered new cases of COVID-19 Delta variant.

In a virtual DOH briefing on the COVID-19 situation, Vergeire said the cases in Cavite and Batangas were from previous genome sequencing runs and have been previously reported.

“The DOH considers the 2 cases in Calamba City, Laguna as latest Delta variant cases,” she added.

Meanwhile, Vergeire said local government units are guided on the process of genome sequencing and that coordinations are made with them and with local epidemiology and surveillance units for information before the results from the Philippine Genome Center are released to the public.

“When the LGU and the epidemiology and surveillance units are informed, only then can the public be informed so that they can be aware of the situation and for them to observe protocols for their protection,” she said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Paula Paz Sydiongco, DOH Calabarzon OIC, advised the public to be more vigilant than usual against the Delta variant which is known to be more transmissible and more fatal.

“We need to be fast in attaining herd immunity. We need to protect the most vulnerable, the elderly and those with co-morbidities,” she said noting the need to speed up vaccination.

She also discouraged holding events that will cause the virus to spread fast and that outdoor activities should be preferred over indoor ones adding that there must be proper ventilation of offices.

“We must observe proper surveillance of the virus with improved contact tracing. We encourage facility isolation and quarantine rather than home quarantine,” Sydiongco said.