MANILA (UPDATE)—The virulent Delta variant is now the most common lineage in the Philippines, the Department of Health said Monday, as it reported an additional 319 cases of the more transmissible virus.

Delta, which drove India's infection and death toll to record high, is now the country's "most common lineage among sequenced samples as of the latest full genome sequencing run," said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

The agency said the percentage of Delta cases increased from 5 percent in June to 89 percent of lineages detected in August.

"Since the detection of the local Delta variant in May 29, to be exact, an increase in the proportion of Delta variant cases were seen for the succeeding months," Vergeire said.

This can be attributed to its increased transmissibility and sampling methodology as samples from target areas were prioritized, she added.

Of the 12,530 sequenced samples with lineages, the country has detected 3,027 or 24.16 percent of Delta cases. The tally includes 2,734 or 21.82 percent of Beta cases (South Africa) and 2,461 or 19.64 percent of Alpha cases (United Kingdom).

"All regions either have an Alpha, Beta or Delta variant cases," Vergeire said, adding this comprised 65.6 percent of all samples.

Of the 916 sequenced samples from returning overseas Filipinos, 601 or 65.6 percent were positive for a variant of concern, she added.

Vergeire also bared that the highest case fatality rate was observed among 80 years old and above at 17.14 percent. It is followed by aged 70 to 79 (11.48 percent), aged 50 to 59 (5.48 percent) and aged 60 to 69 (5.45 percent).

"Overall, the Delta variant has a case fatality rate of 2.48 percent and is twice as high in males than in females," she said.

The Philippines on Sunday confirmed 19,271 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the country’s total to 2,366,749 as the more transmissible Delta variant continued to spread.

The Philippines on Sunday confirmed 19,271 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the country’s total to 2,366,749 as the more transmissible Delta variant continued to spread.

The DOH also reported 25,037 new recoveries, pushing the total number of Filipinos who recovered from the disease to 2,151,765.

This means that the country has a total of 178,196 active cases as of 4 p.m. Sunday.

Two hundred five new deaths were also reported, bringing the country’s death toll from the disease to 36,788.

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