Mayor Beng Climaco has instructed the security forces, particularly the Philippine Coast Guard, police and Task Force Zamboanga to strengthen border control to prevent the entry of Covid-19’s Delta variant to Zamboanga City.
This developed after the Department of Health (DOH) had confirmed 16 Delta variant cases in the country, of which 11 cases were reported in Region 10.
“The security sector, particularly the Coast Guard and those manning the city’s borders have been directed to intensify and strengthen border control with emphasis on ‘No RT-PCR, No Entry’ policy, and it will remain for as long as the covid threat and its new variant exist,” Climaco stressed during her virtual presser Monday.
The mayor said she recently had the opportunity to talk with the governor of Tawi-Tawi, who told her that similar policy is being implemented in the province.
She likewise reported that the security sector and the local government unit of Zamboanga recently busted the fake RT-PCR test results from unscrupulous individual trying to sneak into the city using dubious documents.
She said investigation on this illegal activity is ongoing, as she warned all those involved in the production of fake RT-PCR test results in the city.
She also said faking the vaccination certificates may be possible considering the present technology, but she assured that the city’s vaccination certificate has special features that cannot be duplicated and can be validated.
With the discovery of Delta being the new variant of concern worldwide, people should get vaccinated and religiously observe the minimum health standards from wearing face masks, face shields to observing social distancing and hand sanitation.
Health experts have said that people not wearing face masks, observing physical distancing, and avoiding enclosed spaces can get the virus even during a short interaction with someone carrying the mutated variant.
(Vic Larato, photos courtesy of City Government of Zamboanga Facebook Page)
