Philippines Prepares for Threat of UK Mutated Coronavirus

Philippine Government Braces for Threat of UK Mutated Coronavirus, Which Emerge During the Holiday Season

Harry Roque says that the Philippines is now preparing for the threat of UK mutated coronavirus that emerged in the United Kingdom.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that President Rodrigo Duterte called a special meeting for possible changes in dealing with the new coronavirus variant in the United Kingdom. The infectious disease experts and country’s managers are urged to attend the meeting.

Roque revealed that President Duterte would cut short his vacation in Davao City to have a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to re-create the plan against the mutated coronavirus.

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go said that the Philippine President was very worried about the new variant of SARS-CoV-2, which emerged in the United Kingdom during the celebration of Christmas holiday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the new virus is 70 percent more transferrable that the original disease. The study also shows that the mutated virus is 56 percent more contagious that the original version.

Roque said that the Philippine government needs to implement a stricter health and safety protocols to prevent the rapid spread of the virus if proven more contagious.

“Nevertheless, the increase in transmissibility is likely to lead to a large increase in incidence, with COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths projected to reach higher levels in 2021 than were observed in 2020, even if regional tiered restrictions implemented before 19 December are maintained,” the scientist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said.

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