No Delta variant cases in Camanava

MANILA, Philippines — The local government units in Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela have not detected cases of the more infectious Delta variant of COVID-19 as of yesterday.

“As of now, no Delta variant yet,” Malabon Mayor Antolin Oreta III told The STAR.

Oreta said while Malabon could not close its borders to Metro Manila to prevent the entry of the Delta variant, “we have to assume it is present already and take precautions.”

Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco said while there is no reported Delta variant case yet in the city, “it is just a matter of time so better to be proactive and assume there is.”

Tiangco said it would be difficult to totally close the borders of Navotas to Manila.

The city government will not expand its travel ban on people going to Navotas from outside the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus to contain the more infectious variant, Tiangco said.

Navotas earlier restricted the entry of travelers from outside the NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal by requiring them to register at s-pass.ph and submit health declaration forms, medical certificates and a negative swab test result.

Imposing a similar restriction will be difficult, Tiangco said.

“It is not feasible because NCR is contiguous,” he said.

It is also not possible for Navotas to close its borders to Manila, where a death from the Delta variant was reported, Tiangco added.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said there is no need to impose lockdowns in the city after the Department of Health recorded a fatality due to the Delta variant, a 58-year-old woman from Pandacan who died on June 28.

The public information offices of Caloocan and Valenzuela said there are no Delta variant cases in their cities.

The Valenzuela government will equip health facilities and isolation centers with more oxygen machines to prepare for a possible surge in COVID cases, according to public information officer Zyan Caiña.

Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan ordered the police and barangay officials to strictly enforce minimum health protocols to avoid the spread of the Delta variant.