Pangasinan confirms first Delta variant case in returning OFW

Pangasinan confirmed its first case of the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 in a 23-year-old male returning overseas Filipino worker (OFW).

The patient, a seafarer who arrived in the Philippines on July 13, completed his mandatory quarantine in Manila before returning home to Natividad town on August 3.

He tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival and completed quarantine, and was later found to have the Delta variant.

The patient's family members, who were swabbed on August 9, have tested negative for the coronavirus.

The patient and his family remain under quarantine, and contact tracing is ongoing for individuals who may have come into contact with the patient.

Health authorities remind the public to continue practicing health protocols and to get vaccinated against COVID-19, as the Delta variant is highly transmissible and can cause difficulty of breathing.