MANILA, Philippines — Local health authorities on Friday said they detected 16 more cases of the highly infectious Delta variant of coronavirus in the country. This brings the total number of people infected with the B.1.617.2 variant in the Philippines to 35. Six of these cases are from the Zamboanga Peninsula while another five are returning overseas Filipinos. Studies suggest that the Delta variant, first detected in India, spreads more quickly and seems to have stronger resistance to vaccines than other forms of COVID-19. But country’s Food and Drug Administration has stressed that coronavirus vaccines retain important effectiveness against the Delta variant.

Source: Philippine Star July 16, 2021 03:11 UTC