Sulu mulls declaring a lockdown amid new coronavirus strain in Sabah

December 29, 2020

Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan said on Tuesday  a lockdown may be imposed in the province to prevent entry of people coming from Sabah where new strain of coronavirus disease was reported.

In the "Laging Handa" press briefing, Tan appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to communicate with the Malaysian government to suspend the deportation of undocumented Filipinos from Sabah.

"That's our request because we do not know if they (Filipinos) are carrying the new strain of the virus...(which) are more infectious than the COVID-19," he said.

Tan said he also sent letters to the President and National Task Force Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez to support them if they impose a lockdown.

"If we're going to impose a lockdown, we need to be supported and anytime after our meeting with the security security sector and other members of the Task Force COVID-19 Sulu, we may enforce a lockdown in order for the COVID not to enter (in the province)," he explained.

He noted that most supplies, such as food and rice, in Sulu came from Sabah.

Tan urged the National Food Authority to send rice to Sulu.

Asked how long the lockdown could be in the province, the governor said, "Our planned lockdown is for as long as necessary. So, there's no timeframe as to until when." Celerina Monte/DMS