MANILA – Binabantayan na ng Department of Health (DOH) ang nai-report na bagong strain ng coronavirus disease (COVID-19) sa United Kingdom.
“According to Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), wala pa silang nakikitang bagong strain na mayroon dito sa ating bansa, based on their monitoring,” ani Health Usec. Maria Rosario Vergeire.
“We will furthering this monitoring baka sakaling mapaigting para kung mayroon mang ganyan sa bansa, ma-identify natin,” dagdag ng opisyal
Nitong Sabado kinumpirma ng UK government na may bagong strain ang sakit. Tinawag itong “VUI – 202012/01,” na unang natukoy noong Setyembre.
Bagamat wala pang ebidensya na mas nakakamatay ang bagong strain ng coronavirus, pinaniniwalaan namang mas nakakahawa ito ng hanggang 70%.
“As a result of the rapid spread of the new variant, preliminary modelling data and rapidly rising incidence rates in the South East, the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) now consider that the new strain can spread more quickly,” ani England chief medical officer Chris Whitty.
Nangako ang DOH na patuloy nilang tututukan ang development ng coronavirus sa ibang bansa para makapaghanda agad ng aksyon ang pamahalaan.
TRAVEL RESTRICTION, LOCKDOWNS
Agad nagpatupad ng paghihigpit ang pamahalaan ng Britanya sa kanilang mga residente. Nag-desisyon si British Prime Minister Boris Johnson na maglabas ng bagong panuntunan para maiwasan pa ang pagkalat ng bagong strain ng sakit.
“It is with a very heavy heart I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned,” ani Johnson.
Given the early evidence we have on this new variant of the virus, and the potential risk it poses, it is with a heavy heart that I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned. (2/3)
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) December 19, 2020
Ang mga bansa sa UK, naglatag na ng kanya-kanyang lockdown schedules lalo na’t papalapit ang Pasko.
Ilang estado na rin sa Europe ang nagpatupad ng travel ban papuntang Britanya, tulad ng France, Germany, Italy at Ireland.
Pati na ang ilang bansa sa Asia, gaya ng Israel, Saudi Arabia, at Kuwait.
Ayon kay Usec. Vergeire, hindi pa nila nakikita ang pangangailan na irekomendang magpatupad ng travel restriction ang pamahalaan papuntang UK.
“There is already restriction imposed by UK. Dito sa ating bansa, ang ating pinapapasok ay mga diplomats and those with official businesses.”
“I don’t think that would be required at this point, although of course we are strengthening our measures to prevent yung pagpasok ng impeksyon dito.”
Kamakailan nang aprubahan ng Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) ang pagpasok sa bansa ng mga Pilipino galing abroad, pati na ang kanilang pamilya.
Pinapayagan na rin ang mga foreign nationals na may valid at existing visa.
“The IATF, in its 89th meeting, also allowed the re-entry to the Philippines of foreign nationals with valid and existing visas under Section 9(e) and 9(g) of Commonwealth Act No. 613, as amended, who are already in the country and will be leaving the country starting December 17, 2020,” ani Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
