Duterte: We may need to restore stricter restrictions due to Delta variant

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night said that the Philippines may have to  reimpose stricter restrictions after the Department of Health confirmed the incidence of local cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19.

In his weekly Talk to the People, Duterte issued this warning as the country reported 35 Delta variant cases, of which, 11 are local cases.

"The reported local cases in the country is a call for serious alarm and concern," Duterte said in his weekly briefing with Cabinet secretaries.

"We may need to reimpose stricter  restrictions to avoid mass gatherings and avoid super spreader event," he added.

Duterte said some Asian countries such as Indonesia were already under stricter restrictions due to the Delta variant.

"I urge the DILG... to impose existing restrictions with greater urgency," Duterte said.

Duterte stressed the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

He said the Pulse Asia survey showed 43% of Filipinos were now willing to get inoculated versus the coronavirus.

“You must get the vaccines or you die,” Duterte said.

He said those who don't believe in vaccines should just stay at home. —NB, GMA News