Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson cautioned Negrenses against the new strain of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).
The governor said the public should not be complacent as COVID-19 will still be around in 2021.
Lacson said there is a possibility that the new strain could be more dangerous since it is more infectious.
The public should continue to strictly observe health protocols as a precaution, he added.
Reports bared that the new COVID-19 strain called SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01 or “B.1.1.7.” was first discovered in the United Kingdom in September and is believed to be responsible for the recent spike in cases.
The country has already imposed a travel ban on at least 20 countries that reported new strains of the virus as of January 15.
Lacson said that Covid-19 was a “challenge” for him and all other local government executives, but it did not stop him from implementing his development agenda for 2020 in Negros Occidental.
Lacson said that despite the pandemic, the provincial government still managed to implement various infrastructure projects and help farmers and hog raisers.
“We were able to implement priorities that we set for 2020,” he said.
(Dolly Yasa via The Daily Guardian (TDG), photo courtesy of TDG)