Duterte to meet IATF tonight on new COVID-19 strain

December 26, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte is set to meet with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and infectious disease workers Saturday night to discuss the new strain of coronavirus detected in the United Kingdom (UK).

In a text message sent to reporters on Friday, Senator Christopher Lawrence Go said Duterte’s meeting with the IATF-EID and infectious disease experts would be held in Malacañan Palace in Manila.

“Biglaan patawag ng meeting with IATF and infectious disease experts tom si PRRD (President Rodrigo Duterte suddenly called for a meeting with the IATF and infectious disease experts tomorrow) to discuss new strain (of the coronavirus disease 2019 or Covid-19),” said Go.

In an interview, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the meeting would take place at the Malago Clubhouse at about 6 p.m. Saturday.

Duterte scheduled the meeting following his approval of the IATF-EID’s resolution that bans Philippine flights from the UK from December 24 to 31 due to concerns over the spread of a new variant of Covid-19.

Go said Duterte had decided to cut short his Christmas break as he is “very much” concerned with the reported new strain of Covid-19 that could spread more quickly than previous strains. DMS