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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duterte calls IATF to discuss new Covid-19 UK strain; will sign P4.5-T budget law tomorrow

Duterte calls IATF to discuss new Covid-19 UK strain; will sign P4.5-T budget law tomorrow

Published Dec 25, 2020 02:36 pm

         President Duterte has cut short his Christmas vacation break and called health experts to discuss the new strain of coronavirus virus (COVID-19) that supposedly originated in the United Kingdom.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go (Senator Christopher “Bong” Go official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

The meeting would be held in Malacañang tomorrow, according to Senator Christopher Go, chairman of the Senate health and demography committee and a close confidant of the President, in his Viber message to Senate reporters.

Go also disclosed that the President would sign at 5 P.M. on Monday at the Malacanang Palace the 2021 P4.5 trillion national budget bill.

The meeting, according to Go, would be attended by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and Infectious Disease experts.

‘’Very much concerned kami ni Pangulo,’’ Go said. (I and the President are very much concern.)

Earlier, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson said that the Senate, created as a Committee of the Whole would start on January 11 its public hearing on the administration’s preparations for and mechanics of vaccinating Filipinos next year.

On Tuesday, the President ordered the suspension of all flights from the United Kingdom starting Dec. 24 until Dec. 31, following the recommendations of the IATF.
 
Because of this, all passengers who have been to the UK in the last 14 days, including transiting travelers are restricted from entering the country.
 
Over 50 countries have also suspended flights from Britain to contain the spread of the new COVID-19 variant.
 

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