PUERTO PRINCESA CITY –– Local officials in southern Palawan will enforce tighter border controls after Malaysia reported a new strain of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Jose Alvarez on Tuesday said he has ordered local authorities to deny undocumented individuals from entering through Mangsee Island in Balabac municipality. ADVERTISEMENTThe island is known as a backdoor for sea travelers from Sabah, and the island of Borneo. Malaysian health authorities on Dec. 24 reported that one of their patients from Sabah carries the new strain of the highly infectious virus. Alili clarified, however, that merchants, fisherfolk, and other essential sea travelers from neighboring islands within the Sulu Sea, including Malaysia, Borneo, and Mindanao islands, would remain unhampered.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 29, 2020 03:33 UTC