COVID-19 Cases in the Philippines May Hit 8,000 This Thursday Due to the Delta Variant Threat

The OCTA Research group on Wednesday (July 21) announced the number of new cases nationwide may escalate from 8,000 to 10,000 this Wednesday, after reports of an increase in cases of the highly contagious Delta variant.

Prof. Guido David of the Research group made this prediction in an interview on TeleRadyo, when it was discovered that the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 6,560 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases in the Philippines to 1,524,449, leading health experts to demand tighter quarantine restrictions and border controls.

“I’m calling it now, I think we’ll have around 8,000 plus cases on Thursday, (July 22), which would be a lot,” David said.

“I think the Alpha and Beta variants have weakened but the Delta variant might be here. If we’re having 8,000 cases on Thursday, the possibility of us having 10,000 cases again in one day is near,” he added

David further explained that the spike may be possible due to the Delta variant. “We can’t say the Delta variant caused the spike, but it might be driving it”

Health experts are apprehensive that, like David, the Delta variant may be fueling a rise in cases in densely populated communities south of Manila, although these areas have been under quarantine and border controls for weeks.

Image source: rappler.com

So far, the Philippines has managed to contain a deadly spread of the Delta variant that has afflicted its neighbors. The DOH has reported 35 cases in the Philippines, including 11 locally identified cases.

Indonesia has been breaking records, with daily caseloads exceeding 50,000. Malaysia has also been setting records, with over 12,000 cases reported in recent days. Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar are also seeing surges.

The DOH said it is already conducting ‘enhanced response’ in regions where cases have been identified on the basis that local transmission might already be occurring.