Duterte calls for emergency meet on new COVID-19 strain

MANILA, Philippines — Due to the serious threat of a new strain of coronavirus discovered in the United Kingdom, President Duterte is set to consult with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) today to determine whether to extend the travel ban on travelers from Britain beyond Dec. 31.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said the President also wants to get details from government experts so he could determine if there is a need to expand the list of countries for the travel ban, following reports of the new variant already reaching Hong Kong, Singapore and Nigeria.

Duterte cut short his Christmas holidays with his family in Davao City so he could address developments in the raging health crisis.

The Palace is also looking at possibly disallowing entry for travelers from countries with recorded cases of the new strain of COVID-19.

“The President cut short his vacation this Christmas and he called for a special meeting with select members of the Inter-Agency Task Force tomorrow (Dec. 26) at 6 p.m. at Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang,” Roque said in Filipino.

Roque said the President will be discussing with the IATF the developments on the new strain of COVID-19 in the UK.

“Among the topics for discussion would be what will happen to the travel ban imposed on travelers from UK, and if there will also be travel ban in areas where the new strain has been recorded,” he added.

Roque did not discount the possibility that the ban on travelers from the UK would be extended after Dec. 31.

“It’s possible depending on the decision of the President (which will be) based on the recommendation of the IATF,” Roque said.

On reports that the new strain spreads faster than the original strain, Roque said there could be a change in health protocols strategy but the government would have to weigh the impact of a stricter lockdown.

“We will review if there is a need to change our policies in the fight against COVID-19, although it is not yet clear what this new strain is, we really need to prepare for it in case the previous theories become a reality,” he said.

For now, Roque said the government would take extra effort to ensure that health protocols are followed to the letter by the general public such as physical distancing and mandatory wearing of face masks and face shields outside homes.

After the holidays, there would hopefully be a clearer picture of compliance with minimum health standards, he said.

He also appealed to the public for understanding, particularly to those who would be affected by the President’s order to put under quarantine anyone arriving from the UK between Dec. 24 and 31.

“We appeal for their patience because these are done to avoid the spread of the new strain,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) said more than six million individuals have undergone testing for COVID-19 in the country.

Based on DOH’s Situationer Report for COVID-19, a total of 6,213,854 individuals have undergone swab tests as of Dec. 23.

Positivity rate of COVID-19 in the country is at 8.47 percent.

Data show that there are now 153 licensed laboratories doing real time-polymerase chain reaction tests. A total of 84 laboratories have pending applications to do testing for COVID-19.

Also yesterday, DOH reported 1,885 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 467,601. There were 27,748 active cases.

Seven patients have died, raising the death toll to 9,062.

The number of recoveries reached 430,791 after 307 patients recovered from the virus. – Sheila Crisostomo