Philippines to remain safe from COVID-19 variant if…

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday expressed optimism that the Philippines would remain safe from the new coronavirus strain as long as quarantine protocols are strictly implemented.

President Duterte has approved an extension of the ban on flights from the United Kingdom where the new virus variant was first detected for two more weeks after Dec. 31.

He has also approved the implementation of a strict mandatory 14-day quarantine for travelers from countries or areas that reported the new strain, including Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia, regardless of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results.

Some lawmakers, however, are urging the Duterte administration to expand the travel ban to include arrivals from other countries that have reported the new strain.

“Whether (it be) a new strain or the old strain, our weapons are the 14-day quarantine, frequent hand washing, wearing of face masks and physical distancing,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said at a press briefing.

“For now, the decision is to approve a two-week extension that will end on Jan. 14 and the travel ban on arrivals from the UK,” he added.

Roque clarified that the approval of precautionary measures was without prejudice to a possible ban on passengers from other countries that reported the new variant.

“We are imposing a 14-day quarantine. It’s mandatory regardless of the results of the PCR test. That means even if there is a new strain from the area of origin, it won’t spread because they are (required) to be quarantined in New Clark City,” the Palace spokesman said.

Duterte has also proposed the creation of a new task force that would look into the new virus strain that should be considered a “deadly disease that would be entering the Philippines.”

With new travel restrictions and as more countries suspend commercial flights, thousands of nurses and other highly skilled overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will again not be able to leave for their jobs abroad.

“Thousands of OFWs are to get affected by the ban of Saudi Arabia on all international flights aside from those bound for UK,” recruitment consultant Manny Geslani said.

In separate advisories, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) notified OFWs on the suspension of international flights to and from the UK, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

POEA said Saudi Arabia temporarily suspended all inbound international passenger flights as well as entry through land and seaports since Dec. 21.

According to POEA, Kuwait also suspended international flights until Jan. 1 amid mounting concerns over the new strain of coronavirus.

OFWs were advised to wait until the different governments lift the suspension.

Those OFWs set to return home for vacation or renewal of contracts are advised to just stay in their jobsites for now.

Geslani said the travel suspension in UK and Saudi will affect mostly nurses. Based on news reports, Saudi Arabia is considering extending the flight suspension for another week depending on the nature of the virus spread.

Sen. Bong Go, chairman of the Senate committee on health, said the government should implement strictest border control measures and necessary travel restrictions to avoid the further spread of COVID-19.

“We should be prepared. Let’s not wait for this disease to spread further especially in our country. If there are reports of new strain elsewhere, we don’t want it here – lessons learned,” Go said in Filipino in a radio interview yesterday.

“We must consider imposing a strict travel ban for those whose country of origin is considered high-risk,” he added. “If there’s a report of a new variant in their place, it means red flag.”

“Our continued efforts must not falter,” Go said as he appealed to the public for greater cooperation. “Every decision that the government makes must be based on good science and must uphold the welfare and well-being of Filipinos wherever they may be in the world,” he pointed out.

He also said the country must be ready to help OFWs in distress over loss of jobs or failure to return to their homes. — Mayen Jaymalin, Cecille Suerte Felipe