MANILA, Philippines — The chief of the country’s health department called for stricter border controls to prevent the spread of the Lambda variant of the coronavirus. Local health authorities have yet to detect the presence of the Lambda variant, which is classified as a “variant of interest” by the World Health Organization, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said Tuesday. Current border controls have been so far effective, Duque claimed as only 19 cases of the highly infectious Delta variant have been detected. The Lambda variant was first detected in Peru in December 2020. Duque also said there is no evidence yet that the Lambda variant reduces protection offered by vaccines.

Source: Philippine Star July 06, 2021 10:07 UTC