Senators push to ban travelers from Europe amid new COVID-19 variant

MANILA, Philippines — Several senators urged the government Tuesday to impose a travel ban on individuals from Europe amid reports of a new coronavirus strain in the United Kingdom (UK).

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said that the Department of Health (DOH) should impose the travel ban “immediately” and “act decisively in the interest of the Filipino people.”

“DOH should not procrastinate. Recall that in February, DOH, concerned that it will displease China, refused to ban incoming passengers from China. Result: deadly transmission from Wuhan visitors of the dreaded Covid virus,” Drilon said in a text message.

Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto also backed the imposition of the travel ban, saying that “we must do everything to ensure the safety and protection of our people.”

Senator Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Senate committee on labor,  also expressed support towards the travel ban.

“We should act quickly and temporarily ban travelers from Europe. This is to ensure the new strain doesn’t spread here,” Villanueva said.

Senator Grace Poe, meanwhile, said that tightening the borders should be considered, saying that the government “should act on this matter decisively and promptly.”

“Considering tightening our borders will be for the good of nations concerned to contain the infection,” Poe said.

“It’s the vaccine that should be spreading across borders, not the virus,” she added.

Senator Bong Revilla Jr., meanwhile, asked the National Task Force (NTF) on COVID-19 on the preparations it has undertaken to prevent the entry of the new strain of the virus.

“Kailangan na mabilis na kumilos ang NTF,” Revilla said.

“Measures must immediately be put in place so that this mutated strain doors not reach our shores,” he added.

The DOH, citing the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), said Monday that the new strain of COVID-19 has not reached the Philippines yet. 

Several EU countries — Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and the Netherlands — have announced the suspension of air links, and in some cases rail and ferry links, with Britain.

JE