Strict border, quarantine rules can keep Delta variant away

MANILA – There are is no better way to stop the coronavirus stain Delta variant from entering the country than by imposing strict quarantine policies and border controls.

National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid medical adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa said Thursday the Philippines should not let its guard down as the Delta variant remains a threat.

“Ang Indonesia ay katabi lang ng Pilipinas. Napasok sila. Hindi pa sila tapos sa kanilang pagbabakuna. And isa sa mga nakita ko sa nangyari sa kanila eh binaba nila kaagad iyong kanilang quarantine rules. So parang ginawang five days yata so maraming nakapasok na Delta variant (Indonesia is near the Philippines. It was penetrated. They are not yet done with vaccination. One of the things I saw is that they loosened up their quarantine rule, reducing it to five days),” Herbosa said in an interview during the Laging Handa press briefing.

The Department of Health (DOH) said there is no local case yet of the highly transmissible variant.

“We need to keep our border control strict. Pero aside from that, kailangan tuluy-tuloy pa rin iyong pagsuot ng face mask, face shield at huwag masyadong magpunta sa mga matataong lugar (But apart from that, there is still a need to wear face masks and face shields and avoid going to crowded places),” Herbosa said.

It is also important to intensify mass testing, contact tracing, and treatment, he added.

Earlier, the DOH said the Delta variant should not be a cause for alarm if health protocols are properly observed.