Bong Go wants travel restrictions amid spread of COVID-19 UK variant abroad

Published December 28, 2020 09:05 PM By DONA MAGSINO,GMA News

Stricter border control and travel restrictions must be imposed in the Philippines to prevent the possible entry of the new coronavirus variant which was first discovered in the United Kingdom, Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go said on Monday.

"Dapat tayong maging handa na, 'wag na nating antayin na may kumalat pa, lalong-lalo na sa ating bansa. Kung may balitang may new strain sa isang lugar, ayaw nating pumasok 'yan dito… lessons learned na tayo," Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Health, said in a radio interview.

"Mas mabuting paigtingin pa natin. Kung kailangang i-ban, i-ban po natin. 'Wag na nating antayin pa na dumating dito sa ating bansa. Kung may nabalitaan tayong mga bansa na mayro'n nang kaso, do not wait. Ibig sabihin, kahit [isang] kaso lang ay pag-aralan na kaagad," he added.

A strict travel ban must be in place for those whose country of origin is considered high risk and has already recorded community transmission of the new variant of COVID-19 virus, according to the senator.

“Kung gaano kabilis kumalat at mag-evolve ang sakit na ito, mas mabilis at mas akma dapat ang mga mekanismo natin upang maprotektahan ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino," Go said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the extension of the travel ban

from the United Kingdom, including those that transited from the UK, for another two weeks after December 31.

The Department of Health said it would recommend a travel ban from other countries and areas once community transmissions of the new coronavirus variant are recorded there.

Nonetheless, travelers from countries where this new variant of COVID-19 virus has been reported will also have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival in the Philippines, regardless of negative PCR test results.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases is expected to announce "a new set of guidelines on border patrol and other necessary measures within the day," according to Go.

As of December 28, the Philippines recorded a total of 470,650 COVID-19 cases, of whom  438,780 recovered, and 9,124 died.

There are still 22,746 active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine in the country. -NB, GMA News

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