LGUs told: Prepare plans against Delta
MANILA — The Department of the Interior and Local Government is urging local governments to develop strategies to address the possible local transmission of the highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant, which has caused the surge in infections in other countries.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the Philippines has so far recorded 36 cases of the Delta variant and it is possible that more people are carrying it.
“Since it (Delta variant) cannot be detected by ordinary test kits and genome sequencing is required, it is possible that a higher number of people are carrying this variant so everyone should be more careful,” Año said during a meeting of the government’s pandemic task force in Davao City last Monday.
“In the following days, the DILG will release a memorandum reminding our local government units to prepare strategies on the possible local transmission of the COVID Delta variant as soon as possible,” he added.
Año noted that the variant has been tied to spikes in COVID-19 cases in countries like India and Indonesia. Other countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Malaysia are enforcing lockdowns to prevent the rise in the number of infections, he added.
Last Monday, the Palace said the government still prefers to enforce localized lockdowns because a widereaching quarantine may disrupt work and increase the number of people who are experiencing hunger. President Rodrigo Duterte, however, also raised the possibility of reimposing stricter measures to contain the virus.
“We may need to reimpose stricter restrictions to avoid mass gatherings and prevent superspreader events,” the president said during a pre-recorded public address also last Monday.
“If it (Delta variant) is here, if it spreads, I hope it will not, then we will have to go again to stricter measures,” he added.
‘No need to worry’ Año assured the public that the government is working to prevent the further spread of the new variant. He said additional quarantine, isolation, and health care facilities would be set up and border controls are being tightened especially in international airports and seaports. —