Malacañang has confirmed that President Duterte called members of the government's pandemic task force to a special meeting on Saturday to discuss the local transmission of the more contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after CNN Philippines reported that President Duterte wanted to hear the experts on how to contain the said strain on Saturday, July 24.
In a text message, Roque confirmed that the President indeed called members of the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to a meeting.
"I confirm that PRRD called a special meeting of the small IATF tomorrow (July 24) at 6 p.m.," he said.
President Duterte told CNN Philippines that he has called for an emergency meeting of the IATF on Saturday, July 24, on measures to contain the Delta spread.
Health experts will reportedly be invited to the meeting.
CNN Philippines reported on Friday morning, July 23, that Duterte was mulling the closure of the country's borders amid concerns about the rising coronavirus cases.
The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on July 22 the local transmission of the Delta variant, the strain first detected in India and was said to have caused the deadly second wave of infections in the said country.
On Friday, President Duterte approved placing Metro Manila and four other areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions due to the spike in COVID-19 cases.
The prevalence of the Delta variant likewise prompted the Philippines to include Malaysia and Thailand in the travel ban list that already had eight countries. The ban is effective until the end of July 31, 2021.