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New COVID-19 variant may delay economic recovery: PCCI

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/business/12/28/20201223-covid-taguig-malls-jc-7.jpg"/><figcaption>People do some last minute Christmas shopping at a mall in Taguig on December 23, 2020. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - The new COVID-19 variant will delay the Philippines&#x27; economic growth if it will reach the country, a business group said Monday.</p><p>The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is taking &quot;all the steps&quot; to prevent the entrance of the new variant, said chair and director for special projects Alegria Limjoco.</p><p>&quot;This is the only way we can again grow our GDP and all that but we must really all take the precautions and avoid the crowd and [practice] social distancing and [follow] the protocols because it’s really going to delay our recovery,&quot; she told ABS-CBN&#x27;s Teleradyo.</p><p>&quot;This Christmas was a little better because people went out. Just when it was recovering, eto na naman po ang strain. Nangangamba po talaga ang business sector.&quot;</p><p>(Just when it was recovering, this new strain appears. The business sector is really worried.)</p><p>Limjoco said the country&#x27;s economic growth might be delayed to the &quot;later part&quot; of next year&#x27;s second quarter.</p><p>&quot;Sabi po ng BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) between 6.5 to 7.5 ang growth natin next year, however, with this second strain coming up, we believe it’s gonna be delayed,&quot; she said.</p><p>(The BSP said our country&#x27;s growth next year is between 6.5 to 7.5, however, with this second strain coming up, we believe it’s gonna be delayed.)</p><p>&quot;Madedelay lang po nang kaunti (This will be delayed a bit) but definitely there’s no way for us to go but up.&quot;</p><p>The Philippines has prohibited the entry of travelers from the UK, where the new variant was discovered, and enforced a mandatory 14-day quarantine for visitors from nations that have reported a case.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/27/20/ph-extends-uk-travel-ban-until-mid-january-as-new-covid-variant-emerges">PH extends UK travel ban until mid-January, as new COVID variant emerges</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/28/20/govt-urged-to-restrict-travel-from-nations-with-new-covid-19-strain">Govt urged to restrict travel from nations with new COVID-19 strain</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jvMvqlJhg4Q?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The new COVID-19 variant will delay the Philippines' economic growth if it will reach the country, a business group said Monday.</p>

The new COVID-19 variant will delay the Philippines' economic growth if it will reach the country, a business group said Monday.