Duterte hopes new ‘monster‘ COVID variant is not more dangerous
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte expressed concern on Wednesday over the arrival of the new COVID-19 variant in the country.
“There a new monster again. And I pray to God, really, that this is not more dangerous, more toxic than the original COVID. The vaccine being developed now is for fighting that,” Duterte said, speaking partly in Filipino, in a pre-recorded speech.
The President said this after Health Secretary Francisco Duque III disclosed during the meeting details of the Quezon City resident who was detected as having the new COVID-19 variant.
“It’s important to find out who are the people they talked to when they arrived here. That’s very important, whoever they are. So they will be traced and found and be examined for their own good,” Duterte added.
The patient with the UK variant arrived in the Philippines last Jan. 7 from Dubai.
His female partner who was with him in Dubai tested negative for the new coronavirus but was put under strict quarantine and monitoring.
It was still unclear where and how the male patient got infected with the UK variant.
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