Metro Manila mayors to tighten quarantine of international arrivals

Metro Manila mayors will tighten the quarantine of travelers from abroad amid the threat of the Delta variant of COVID-19.

There have been no reported cases of the Delta variant in Manila, so the mayors plan to tighten the restrictions.

According to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman and Metro Manila Council (MMC) leader Benhur Abalos, local government units have a big role in preventing the spread of the variant.

“‘Pag turnover sa LGU, dito hihigpitan po talaga ng mga alkalde po natin… to make sure, walang lalabas ng bahay, to serve the full quarantine days,” said Abalos.

But at the MMC meeting on Saturday, the Metro Manila mayors admitted that they would still need 5,000 contact tracers.

On Monday, the government announced that the country had recorded 4 additional cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant, which is said to be more contagious.

The Department of Health is determined to study the variant to contain it. But it cannot be implemented immediately because they lack genome sequencing kits.

In fact, the target of 750 samples per week is not being reached.

Only a few dozen have been studied for genome sequencing, so it cannot be determined how many of the repatriates carry the variants.

Metro Manila mayors to tighten quarantine of international arrivals

“There is this global shortage for the reagents for the whole genome sequencing because all countries are doing that right now,” said Health Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire.

The DOH also reported the detection of 14 Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant cases, 21 Beta (B.1.351) variant cases, and one Theta (P.3, Philippines) variant.

“The DOH, UP-PGC, and UP-NIH assure the public that biosurveillance activities for the detection of COVID-19 variants shall continue amidst the increase in cases in Visayas and Mindanao,” the DOH said.

Of the new 14 Alpha variant cases, 12 are local cases, while two are verified as to local or ROF cases.

“The Alpha variant cases now total 1,085,” the DOH said.

The Alpha variant was first detected in the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, additional 21 Beta variant cases were detected in the country. The said variant was first detected in South Africa.