Zamboanga City – Following confirmation of the presence of COVID-19’s South African variant in Zamboanga City, the city government has urged its residents anew to strictly follow the prescribed health regulations and protocols to stem COVID transmission and infection.
City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite reiterated that the prevailing health protocols of handwashing, wearing of masks and face shields, and physical distancing remain effective measures for the prevention of COVID infections.
“These measures will work no matter what the variant is,” stressed Dr. Miravite in the virtual presser Monday, May 31.
On May 30, the Department of Health and the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) confirmed the detection of the 501.V2 or B.1.351 SARS-CoV-2 variant (South African variant) in Zamboanga City based on tests conducted on 257 samples.
The South African variant is considered to be one of the most virulent variants of the COVID-19.
Dr. Miravite said discipline will be key to curbing the variant’s spread and tamping down the rise of COVID cases in the city.
“Our policies are in place, implementation is in place, we have to be disciplined, we really have to follow these minimum health standards. Tarda kita puede hace abaja el caso si nuay kita disiplina,” Dr. Miravite said. (Jasmine Mohammadsali)
(Source: City Government of Zamboanga Facebook page)