PH Detects 1st Lambda Variant Case

Metro ICU occupancy ‘high-risk’ at 71%

The Department of Health (DOH) announced yesterday the presence of the Lambda variant of the coronavirus in the Philippines.

The DOH said that the first case of Lambda variant involves a 35-year old woman and is “currently being validated as to whether she is a local or returning overseas Filipino case.”

“The case was asymptomatic and tagged as recovered after undergoing the 10-day isolation period.

The DOH is currently conducting backtracing and case investigation,” the DOH said in a statement.

The Lambda variant was first identified in Peru in August, 2020, and is currently classified as a Variant of Interest (VOI) by the World Health Organization.

“This VOI has the potential to affect the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 and is currently being monitored for its possible clinical significance,” said the DOH.

Delta variant

Cases of the Delta variant continue to increase as 182 new cases were found. Of this figure, 112 are local cases, 36 are returning overseas Filipinos (ROF), and 34 cases are currently being verified if these are local or ROF cases.

“Based on the case line list, one is still active, 176 cases have been tagged as recovered, four cases have died, and one case has an outcome that is being verified. All other details are being validated by the regional and local health offices,” the DOH said.