Palace urges public to continue observing health standards following entry of UK variant

Malacañang on Thursday urged the public to continue observing the minimum health standards after a more transmissible variant of the coronavirus was detected on a Filipino who recently traveled abroad.

Speaking at a news conference, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the decision whether to tighten restrictions would depend on available data such as the two-week attack rate and critical care capacity.

The government reviews the community quarantine classifications every month.

“May posibilidad po dahil mas nakakahawa itong new variant, mas madaming magkakasakit. Pero kung hindi naman po sila magpapa-hospital dahil mild lang iyan ay may posibilidad na hindi rin po magbabago ang quarantine classification,” Roque said.

“Tingnan na lang po natin ang pangyayari, pero sa ngayon po, patuloy po ang panawagan ng ating Presidente: mask, hugas at iwas.”

Dr. Lei Alfonso of the Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 (HPAAC) has also said minimum health standards such as wearing face masks and physical distancing remain to be the effective measure against the spread of COVID-19.

The Department of Health (DOH) announced on Wednesday that a 29-year-old Filipino male tested positive for the UK variant of coronavirus. He recently returned from a business trip in the United Arab Emirates.

His close contacts have been isolated and will be tested for COVID-19, the DOH said.

The Philippines has already barred the entry of foreign travelers from over 30 countries due to the UK variant, which has been detected in several other countries. 

The travel restrictions will expire on Friday unless further extended by the government.—LDF, GMA News