The provincial government of Sulu is taking a step to coordinate with the National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) Covid-19 following reports of new strain of Covid detected in Sabah.
Sulu Governor, Abdusakar Tan took cognizance of the media reports in Sabah attributed to Malaysian Health Director-General Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, as 60 samples were collected and turned new strain of Corona Virus in Sabah.
The news reports claim the new strain of Corona Virus detected in Sabah, was detected in Benteng, Lahad Datu, Sabah and dubbed by health officials as A701V. The reports claimed, in the said cluster in Benteng, Lahad Datu, 60 samples turned to have the new strain of Corona Virus.
The Strain is different from that of the reported deadly new strain found in UK and detected also in Singapore last December 6, 2020. The said strain was tagged as B117.
It is natural for viruses to mutate into strains. What is known as of this moment, is that the new strain spreads faster but not deadlier.
Sulu, which traditionally and historically have close trade and inter-people’s relations with Sabah, the Governor views this development seriously and will continue to liaise and make representations with the National Inter-Agency Task Force MEID on how best to handle the emerging situation.
“We have porous coastlines and a vast Sulu Sea between us and Sabah, and only the National Government is equipped with the capacity and logistics to put in place and in operation, safeguards and preemptive measures called for,” Tan in a statement said
The Sulu Task Force Covid-19 calls on the public not to panic and to heed advisories only from official sources.
Tan assures Sulu residents, “With our frontline partners, we will intensify our monitoring and utilize all material and human resources at our disposal to assure our constituents,
as we reiterate our call to them to avoid speculations and the spread of fake and harmful mongering.” (Roland Ramos, RPN DXXX Zamboanga OIC)