Duque Says Borders Should Stricten To Prevent Entry Of LambdaVariant
VARIANTS OF CONCERN – Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that boarders should be tightened to prevent the new “Lambda variant” from entering the Philippines.
Currently, several variants of concern have been known around the world. This includes the Delta variant which has plagued India leading to massive deaths.
However, according to Duque, the new variant has yet to be tagged as a “variant of concern. Currently, the variant has spread to 35 countries. But, the Philippines had yet to become one of them.
Earlier, the World Health Organization said that the new Lambda variant was still tagged as a “variant of interest”. Furthermore, Duque, during a press briefing said:
inakailangan talaga bantayan natin ito dahil baka biglang maging variant of concern. Ang gagawin ay patuloy na paigtingin ang border control para makasiguro na hindi ito makalusot
As such, all returning Filipinos from abroad need to adhere to stricter protocols upon arriving in the Philippines. Additionally, Duque cited that the country’s current border control has been deemed effective.
So far, the new Delta variant, first detected in India had no cases of local transmissions in the Philippines. Still, the Department of Health had recorded 19 cases of the variant, all detect upon entry.
Meanwhile, when asked if the Philippines would impose travel bans on countries with the new Lambda Variant, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the government would “act accordingly”.
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