Philippine News Agency
PRRD floats possible imposition of another lockdown in PH
President Rodrigo Duterte stated that the Philippines might revert to a lockdown if the new COVID-19 variant, initially found in the UK, enters and spreads within the country.
Duterte clarified that a renewed lockdown would depend on the severity of cases and the government's capacity to effectively manage the situation.
He emphasized that a surge in cases due to the new variant, coupled with a lack of effective countermeasures, would necessitate drastic action.
National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana suggested that a tighter lockdown could be imposed if the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) establishes a clear threshold for daily new cases.
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President Rodrigo Duterte has cut short his Christmas vacation to meet with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and infectious disease experts regarding the new, more infectious SARS-CoV-2 strain originating from the United Kingdom.
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President Rodrigo Duterte has expanded the travel ban to 20 countries where a more infectious strain of COVID-19 has been detected.
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President Rodrigo Duterte has directed the Department of Health and the Department of Science and Technology to form a new task force composed of health experts to address the new COVID-19 variant.
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The Department of Health (DOH) has recommended a 14-day travel ban on countries that have detected the new, more contagious COVID-19 variant, in addition to the United Kingdom.
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The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases is set to discuss protocols for a new and more infectious COVID-19 strain that has emerged in the United Kingdom.
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