Host-actress Pokwang took to social media to express her frustrations over Health Secretary Francisco Duque III’s statement regarding the travel ban on the United Kingdom (UK) due to the recently reported new strain of COVID-19.
On Sunday, December 27, Pokwang shared a post on Twitter that contained Duque’s statement on the UK travel ban. The health secretary mentioned that a travel ban on other countries would only be considered once a community transmission of the new virus is recorded in the country.
In a meeting with President Duterte and the members of the Cabinet, Duque said that “Ikunsidera lamang ang travel ban, Mr. President kung nasa lebel na ng community transmission ang new variant sa naturang bansa (UK).”
Pokwang aired her concerns on her Twitter account and questioned Duque’s statement on the UK travel ban. She even hinted that the Philippines is doomed and said that the people could only rely on prayers alone.
“Goodluck nalang sating lahat pahusayan nalang ng dasal ito at pag ka praning LORD!!! Kayo na po bahala samin kayo po pag asa namin,” she wrote.
Talaga po ba mr. Secretary??Talaga po ba????? MY GOOODDD!Kung yung mayayaman na bansa nag travel ban na from UK tayo pa kayaaaa???? goodluck nalang sating lahat pahusayan nalang ng dasal ito at pag ka praning woohooo LORD!!! kayo na po bahala samin kayo po pag asa namin. pic.twitter.com/FsLHJWR5cR
— marietta subong (@pokwang27) December 27, 2020
Pokwang also shared an Instagram post which is a video that briefly explained the said new COVID-19 variant which came from the UK.
Kalokaaaaa!!!!!! sana i ban na lahat ng flight from UK Lord ano ba iteeyyyyy ☹️😱 https://t.co/GIXitly6ND
— marietta subong (@pokwang27) December 27, 2020
“Kalokaaaaa!!!!!! sana i ban na lahat ng flight from UK Lord ano ba,” she said.
According to an article by Inquirer, the new SARS-CoV-2 strain was first detected in the UK and has already arrived in other countries such as Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson placed London and southeast England on lockdown after scientists found a more infectious variant of the COVID-19 virus. He said that the virus “may be up to 70 percent more transmissible than the earlier strain.”
However, Duque’s office had already clarified that the DOH chief’s statement was referring not only to the UK but to all countries that had reported cases of the new variant.
Meanwhile, the Philippines had already suspended the flights from the UK starting from December 24 until December 31. President Duterte then agreed to the recommendation of extending the travel ban for two more weeks.