Two Delta Variants detected in Apayao

BAGUIO CITY (September 14, 2021)—- Another two delta variants of COVID-19 were detected in Apayao province.

Apayao Governor Eleanor Bulut-Begtang said the additional two cases was confirmed by the  Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the Department of Health (RESU-DOH) Cordillera to the Apayao Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (PIATF)  on Monday (September 13, 2021).

The two cases were reportedly from among the specimens from Luna town sent to PGC for sequencing.

The governor disclosed that the confirmation brings the total of confirmed Delta variant cases in the province to seven.  According to Begtang, four of which come from Luna, and the remaining three from Pudtol.

She said that all of the seven cases have been declared as fully recovered.  “The PIATF is working with the Luna Municipal IATF on the conduct of a aggressive tracing of individuals who have had interactions and contact with the confirmed Delta variant cases and subject the same to RT-PCR testing,” said Begtang.

She assured that the PIATF and the Luna MIATF will continue to work jointly to address and manage the situation. Begtang appeals to the residents to be more vigilant and continue observing prescribed health protocols. She reminded the people to stay at home unless for essential and emergency situations.

Meanwhile, the whole province of Apayao is under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) until September 30, 2021. The province was earlier under ECQ until September 13, 2021.

Only the Municipality of Sta Marcela remains on ECQ status until September 16, 2021.

Artemio A. Dumlao*