Malacañang said Tuesday that the public should remain vigilant the health department reported two cases of COVID-19 variant from India, the B.1.617 which is said to be more transmissible.
“We call on our fellow Filipinos, we know that if we do not take care of our lives, we will not be able to go back to work. That is why the President’s call is for us to take care, wear a mask, wash hands frequently, observe social distancing and get a COVID-19 vaccine,” Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said.
Roque cited the measures the government is taking to prevent the India variant from spreading in the Philippines. Such protocols include mandatory 14-day quarantine for returning Filipinos overseas of which 10 days is under a government isolation facility. The government also increased hospital beds for COVID-19 patients and banned travelers from India and nearby countries.
“We will continue to do these measures because whether or not there is an Indian variant, it is way cost-efficient rather than shutting down our economy,” Roque said.
According to the World Health Organization, the Indian variant of coronavirus is a variant of concern, meaning “one associated with increased transmissibility or detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology, increased virulence, or decreased effectiveness of health protocols, diagnostics, vaccines, or therapeutics.”
Palace urges Filipinos to be vigilant after India variant detected in PH
Rontgene Solante, who heads the adult infectious diseases unit of San Lazaro Hospital, had earlier said that the more contagious B.1.617 COVID-19 variant and loosening of restrictions in India are the reasons why cases are increasing again there.
The Philippine government also enforced travel restrictions on travelers coming from neighboring countries of India, in a bid to prevent the B.1.617 COVID-19 variant from entering the country.
From May 7, 2021 to May 14, 2021, all travelers from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka within the past 14 days prior to arrival in the Philippines will not be allowed to enter the country first.
But if they arrive in the country before May 7, 2021, they will be allowed to enter the Philippines but they will have to undergo a 14-days facility-based quarantine and an RT-PCR test.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.