ILOILO City – Assume there’s already a community transmission of the more contagious Delta variant of the virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the region. Evidence is yet to be established but the Department of Health (DOH) is enjoining Western Visayans to get ahead of the virus.
This would strengthen the Prevention, Detection, Isolation, Treatment, and Reintegration (PDITR) strategies against the viral disease, according to Dr. Bea Camille Natalaray, medical officer at DOH Region 6.
She, however, acknowledged the need to gather evidence before DOH could declare there’s a Delta variant community transmission.
“Ma-consider naton nga may community transmission if there is clustering of cases and indi na naton ma-link ang mga cases to each other… We need evidence for that,” Natalaray said.
Clustering occurs when there is a concentration of local infections in the same area at the same time.
Natalaray said DOH-6 was waiting for the pyro genetic analysis of the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) as to where or who were the sources Delta variant infections.
On Aug. 23, Western Visayas logged 53 additional Delta variant cases. Of these, 21 were from Aklan, 16 from Iloilo province, 11 from Iloilo City, and one each from Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Bacolod City. The figures were apart from the 52 Delta cases detected as of Aug. 18.
DOH-6 NOT SPARED
Of the 53 new Delta variant cases detected, two were fully-vaccinated employees of DOH-6.
Natalaray said both were deemed recovered on Aug. 21.
Employee 1 last physically reported for work on July 22. Onset of symptoms was reported on July 26. All identified close contacts within their household were swabbed and quarantined.
Employee 2 last physically reported for work on July 26 and manifested signs and symptoms on July 27. All three close contacts identified in the regional office were immediately quarantined and swabbed. All three turned out negative for the coronavirus.
Both employees had their repeat reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests on Aug. 10; they tested negative. Both also completed the required 14-day quarantine.
In compliance to the health protocol of the City Heath Office, both would be subjected to a second repeat PCR test.
The two employees have not yet returned to work as to date.
SKELETAL WORKFORCE
DOH-6 assured the public that it strict adheres to COVID-19 health protocols, including alternative work arrangements.
“Mabilin lang di ang mga important workforce sa kada section naton to ensure that essential services padayon gihapon,” said Natalaray.
All personnel are also required to submit health declaration upon entry to the regional office and undergo thermal scanning.
Regular disinfection is conducted and granular lockdowns are enforced in affected work units or offices.
It should also be noted that 96 percent of the 261 employees of DOH-6 have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
RESPONSE ON ‘DELTA’ CASES
DOH-6 clarified that as per the latest recommendations of the Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 variants, and in line with the Department Memorandum 2021-0128 or the Interim Guidelines on Routine Bio-surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 and Management of Cases with Identified Variants of Concern, cases positive for the Delta (8.1.617.2) variant should have a negative PCR on or after the end of their isolation before they can be tagged as recovered.
This is regardless if they have completed the 10-day isolation period, the DOH said.
Patients who have been released from isolation prior to the detection of the Delta variant would be required to undergo immediate strict home quarantine pending a negative repeat PCR test.
Any case whose repeat PCR turns out positive shall remain isolated. If repeat PCR yields a negative result and the case remained asymptomatic, the patient can be released from isolation/quarantine.
Identified first generation close contacts shall undergo 14-day facility-based quarantine and must be tested using PCR prior to discharge, with day one of the quarantine being the date of last exposure.
Samples that will test positive on PCR and fit the criteria for sequencing shall be sent to the PGC for genomic sequencing. The positive case shall then be isolated. If PCR is negative and the patient remained asymptomatic, he/she can be tagged as recovered and be discharged.
Second and third generation contacts shall be placed in strict home quarantine and can only be released once the first generation contacts have completed the 14-day quarantine and tested negative on PCR upon discharge. If their first generation contacts returned with positive PCR, these contacts shall also be required to undergo a repeat PCR test at the end of the 14-day facility quarantine completion and shall only be discharged if PCR test was negative and the patient remained asymptomatic.
The DOH also recommended separate facilities for positive “Delta” cases and for their close contacts./PN
