A seafarer from this town but currently in Manila is the first case of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) here.
In a statement Thursday, the municipality of Bayambang said the seafarer went to Manila on Aug. 15 to process employment documents for work overseas.
“He tested positive in the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test on Aug. 18. However, the result of the genome sequencing was released on Sept. 14,” it said.
It said municipal health officer Dr. Paz Vallo received a letter from the Department of Health Center for Health and Development Ilocos Region on Sept. 15 confirming the first case of Delta variant in the town.
“Bagamat siya ay asymptomatic, siya ay kasalukuyang naka-quarantine pa rin sa Maynila at minomonitor ng otoridad. (Although the patient is asymptomatic, he is still under quarantine in Manila and being monitored by authorities),” it added.
The patient’s family members are under strict home quarantine in the town and they are set to be swabbed on Sept. 17, although all of them are also asymptomatic.
Source: Philippines News Agency
