PREPARATIONS. The Cebu City Emergency Operations Center on Monday convened local heath authorities as well as airport and quarantine bureau officials to discuss policies and protocols in light with the discovery of a new strain of Covid-19 in the United Kingdom. Malacanang has extended by two weeks the ban on flights from the UK from the initial schedule of between December 24-31 as it continues to monitor latest developments on the virus. (Photo courtesy of Joel Garganera)
CEBU CITY – Cebu City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is bracing for the threat posed by the new variant of SARS-Cov-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
On Monday, Cebu City Councilor and concurrent EOC head Joel Garganera held a briefing on the new Covid-19 strain. Inter-Agency Task Force deputy chief implementer for Visayas and Mindanao, Gen. Mel Feliciano, health authorities, and airport and quarantine bureau officials, attended the meeting.
“We have learned our lessons the hard way. That is why as early as now, policies and protocols must be put in place,” he said.
He cited the need to “be preventive and not reactionary” in light of the new Covid-19 variant’s threat.
“(We need to) reassess our protocols for international travelers,” he said.
The EOC chief said the virus’ new variant, which experts say is more transmissible than the previous one, is a “wake-up call” to remain vigilant and not “let our guards down”.
There has been no confirmed case of the new Covid-19 strain from the United Kingdom in the Philippines.
Malacanang has extended for two weeks the ban on flights from the UK until the second week of January 2021 from an earlier timeframe of December 24 to 31 amid reports on the new coronavirus strain. (PNA)
