The city government of Bacoor in Cavite is now monitoring 30 individuals as possible coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) Delta variant cases, Mayor Lani Mercado said on Tuesday.

In an interview with the Philippine News Agency, Mercado said Bacoor currently has two index Delta variant cases in Addas 2C in Molino 2 and in El Grande in Molino 6, prompting them to conduct swab tests for close contacts.

Mercado said the index Delta variant patient in El Grande is now considered recovered after testing negative based on latest swab test.

She, however, said nine of the 10 family members of the Addas 2C index case have been tested positive for Covid-19.

“Sa Addas 2C na may isang index patient na reported, pina swab namin yung 10 na magkakasama dun sa bahay (In Addas 2C where there was reported index patient, we swabbed all 10 of those inside the house), unfortunately, 9 out of 10 nag (turned) positive,” Mercado said.

Mercado said the city health office also conducted antigen test in Addas 2C and nine more residents tested positive for Covid-19.

“So in Addas 2C, we have a total of 18 there,” Mercado said.

She said 12 more individuals in El Grande also yielded positive for Covid-19 after undergoing antigen test on Monday.

Mercado said the Department of Health (DOH) advised the city government to treat all the individuals tested positive in Addas2C and El Grande as Delta variants.

“As per DOH, treat it as Delta variant yung nag positive kasi ang test ng Delta variant after two weeks pa malalaman, since exposed sila sa Delta variant index patient, considered lahat yun Delta na (those who resulted positive since the test for Delta variant will come after two more weeks, and since they were exposed to the Delta variant index patient, they are all considered Delta variants),” she said.

Mercado said they still have to wait for the genome sequencing test results for confirmation.

In the meantime, she said all the necessary precautions are being undertaken to prevent the spread of Delta variants.

She said 288 individuals in El Grande and 247 in Addas 2C underwent antigen test.

With the new development, Mercado said the granular lockdown in El Grande and Addas 2C has been extended until August 9 and 10, respectively, affecting 80 households.

“Yung mga na test namin na nag-positive, in-isolate na namin sa community, nilagay na namin sila sa mga isolation facilities (Those tested positive have already been isolated, they are now in our isolation facilities),” Mercado said.

She said the city government has already asked assistance from the DOH as it continues to conduct antigen test particularly those who have close contact with the 30 individuals tested for Covid-19.

Mercado said both index cases have no travel history, except in a Metro Manila hospital where they underwent checkups.

As of Tuesday, she said Bacoor has recorded 730 active Covid-19 cases.

The city government has vaccinated 82,432 individuals for the first dose, while 33,549 have already received their full doses of the Covid-19 jabs, Mercado said.

Mercado called on her constituents to continue following the basic health and safety protocols and to stay at home as much as possible. (PNA)

Photo Credit: Facebook/LaniMercadoRevilla