DOH: BARMM remains Delta-free

MANILA, Philippines — There is still no case of the highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19 in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), according to the Department of Health.

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told a press briefing yesterday that validation of two Delta cases earlier reported in BARMM showed that they are not from the region.

“When we validated, we found out that these two cases are returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) who underwent mandatory quarantine in BARMM,” Vergeire said.

BARMM remains at low risk for COVID-19 among the regions in Mindanao.

Philippine Genome Center executive director Cynthia Saloma said four regions are being evaluated to determine if there is community transmission of the Delta variant. These are Central Luzon, Northern Mindanao, Western Visayas and Central Visayas.

Saloma said it is “very clear” from their analysis that Metro Manila and Calabarzon are experiencing community transmission of the Delta variant.

Community transmission takes place when the connection of each COVID-19 case can no longer be traced.