THE local health office renewed its appeal to the public to faithfully comply with safety and health protocols and to avoid social gatherings due to the threat of a new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) variant that is feared to be more transmissible.

"With the detection of the new strain, which appears to be more transmissible, we appeal to everyone to practice protocols and avoid social gatherings and be socially accountable and responsible for the safety of everyone," Dr. Dulce Amore Miravite, city health officer, said Thursday, December 31.

As this developed, Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has ordered concerned agencies comprising the local task force Covid-19 to immediately come up with contingency measures to pre-empt, prevent and prepare in case the new coronavirus strain enters the country and Zamboanga City.

"We need to pre-empt, prevent and eventually prepare for the entry of new strain. Since Covid-19 will be present in 2021 we need a long term planning," Salazar said.

Miravite said she expects that the Covid-19 cases in the city will reach the over 4,000 mark after the holiday season when many disregard the protocols and attend parties and other gatherings despite the restrictions.

Miravite said her office recorded 3,642 confirmed Covid-19 cases as of Tuesday, December 29.

She said that of the total tally, 3,364 are recoveries, 111 are active cases, and 167 are mortalities.

She said the City Government is putting in place more stringent measures, including the travel of authorized persons outside residences (Apors), locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and returning residents to prevent and contain the infection.

She said preparations for the storage area for the expected arrival of the anti-Covid vaccines early part of 2021 are underway.

She said they are just awaiting guidelines from the National Government with regards to the vaccines. (SunStar Zamboanga)