EDITORIAL - Let’s not make the same mistake

Yet another COVID-19 variant is spreading, this one called the Omicron variant, first detected in South Africa.

According to the World Health Organization it has become a variant of concern because it was found to be even more contagious than the dreaded Delta variant.

Flights to the Philippines from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Mozambique have been suspended until December 15 to prevent the possible entry of the Omicron variant. But perhaps we shouldn’t stop at these countries.

In the face of this new threat, which has been detected in Hong Kong just less than three hours away by plane, perhaps the government should consider imposing more restrictions for international arrivals for now.

We shouldn’t dilly-dally. Lest we forget, dragging our feet on restricting travel from China was one of the things that hastened the outbreak of COVID-19 here March of last year. This was because the Health secretary wanted to play diplomat and said he would not recommend banning flights from there because he feared political repercussions.

There is no doubt that COVID-19 would have gotten in eventually, but because we didn’t ban flights from China on time it got in earlier, during a time when we were ill-prepared.

It only takes one person with this new variant to arrive and possibly spread it. And we have to remember that we can’t tell what COVID variant one has just by looking. Confirmation after thorough testing only comes usually after that person has recovered from it --or died from it.

And considering how many people have dropped their guard along with the dropping of the numbers here --just last week, there was a beach party in Lapu-Lapu City where many of the revelers didn’t bother with face masks or physical distancing-- it becomes even more urgent to do so.

Right now our COVID numbers are going down, even as the numbers rise in many places abroad. We are again given the chance to close our borders and prevent another possible surge. Let us not make the same mistake we did last year.