Manila Bulletin
Health protocols, travel restrictions must be strengthened as new COVID-19 strain confirmed in Sabah -- Go
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go is calling for stricter border patrols in the southern Philippines following the detection of a new COVID-19 strain in Sabah, Malaysia.
The provincial government of Sulu specifically requested assistance from the National Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) due to the proximity of Sabah.
Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan highlighted that Sulu is only 29 hours away by boat from Sabah, and many individuals enter the country through unofficial routes.
Senator Go emphasized the need for immediate preparedness and the study of necessary measures to address this emerging threat.
🤖
This story was generated by AI to help you understand the key points. For more detailed coverage, please see the news articles from trusted media outlets below.
News Sources
See how different news organizations are covering this story. Below are the original articles from various Philippine news sources that contributed to this summary.
The Provincial Government of Sulu has requested assistance from the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) due to the detection of a new COVID-19 variant in nearby Sabah, Malaysia.
Read more →
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.
Read more →
Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan requested the national government's assistance, particularly from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), to help negotiate with the Malaysian government for the suspension of Filipino repatriates from Sabah.
Read more →
The Department of Health (DOH) will base its recommendation for travel bans on confirmed community transmissions of the new COVID-19 variant.
Read more →
Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan has announced a two-week strict lockdown starting January 4, 2021 to prevent the entry of the new coronavirus strain.
Read more →