This is to clarify a published report headlined "City Health Office bares 57 positive for COVID Delta variant" that is being circulated on social media. The report erroneously quotes City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Miravite as saying that there are 57 cases of the Delta variant in the city. The 57 cases referred to during the July 12 virtual presser are cases of South African variant known as BETA variant and NOT Delta variant.

The exact quote of Dr. Miravite is: "Out of the 457 samples that we have sent, meron tayong naidentify na 57 for the South African variant or Beta variant. And out of the 57, 19 died and the 38 have recovered."

The World Health Organization (WHO) has labelled SARS-CoV2 variants of interest and concern using letters of the Greek Alphabet – Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta – so that it will be easier and more practical to be discussed by non-scientific audiences.

The Delta variant, first detected in India is more transmissible and more infectious. It was also detected in Indonesia and recently in the Philippines specifically in Regions 6 (Western Visayas) and 10 (Northern Mindanao).

We fervently hope and pray that the Delta variant will not find its way to Zamboanga City, which is why the City Government through the LIATF is intensifying implementation of the NO RT-PCR test, NO ENTRY policy as well as quarantine guidelines and health protocols.

LET US HELP ONE ANOTHER AND UNITE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19.  

(Source: City Government of Zamboanga Facebook Page)