ILOILO – Due to the threat of the new and more infectious strain of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the provincial government may adjust some of its community quarantine measures.
“We will make some adjustments but we have to make it together with the national government,” said Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
Yesterday, the Department of Health (DOH) said the Philippine Genome Center detected the new variant, known as B117, after samples from a Filipino who arrived from the United Arab Emirates on Jan. 7 yielded positive genome sequencing results.
The patient, according to DOH, was a male Quezon City resident who flew to Dubai on Dec. 27, 2020 and returned to the country on Jan. 7, 2021 via Emirates flight EK 332.
“The patient was swabbed and quarantined upon arrival. The positive test result was released the following day and the patient was referred to a quarantine facility in Quezon City,” DOH said.
One of the possible moves that Defensor may implement would be a border closure for individuals from Metro Manila, specifically Quezon City.
“That is a possibility,” said Defensor, saying the provincial government is currently studying other precautions to keep the province free from the new coronavirus variant.
He assured the public that all COVID-19 curbs are still in place, such as the ban on leisure and non-essential travel.
“Ang aton nga borders sa subong will remain that way not only because of the new COVID-19 variant but because of the situation of the possible origins like ang sitwasyon sa Metro Manila. That is why indi kita makapagusto sang pasulod sa aton,” Defensor said.
As of Wednesday, the province had a total of 3,233 confirmed COVID-19 cases – 322 of which were active, 2,813 recovered and 98 died./PN
