The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on Thursday that the clusters of the highly transmissible Covid-19 Delta variant cases detected have exhibited local transmission in the country.

In a statement, the DOH said the government had ensured adequate wards and beds in temporary treatment and monitoring facilities and intensive care units dedicated for Covid-19 care in areas where the cases were detected, along with enough supplies and equipment in hospitals.

“DOH urges LGUs (local government units) to shorten the duration of case detection to isolation and immediately isolate symptomatic patients, and ramp up their vaccination and prioritize [the] senior citizens and people with underlying conditions,” the statement read.

The Health Department said national and local governments implemented a “four-door strategy,” which includes strengthening border controls and readying the country’s healthcare capacity, as part of their “enhanced Covid-19 response” to combat the surge of Delta variant cases.

Currently, there are 47 confirmed cases of the Delta variant in the country. Jelo Ritzhie Mantaring