PH Government to Ban Travelers From Countries w/ New COVID-19 Variant, Health Secretary Says
The DOH secretary said that the Philippine government would ban the travelers from countries with the new COVID-19 variant.
On Tuesday (December 29, 2020), the Health Secretary Francisco Duque III reported that President Rodrigo Duterte has already approved the travel ban on countries with mutated coronavirus.
Duque said that the traveler from 20 countries with reported cases of UK coronavirus variant will be prohibited to enter the country. The travel ban would start on December 30, 2020 until January 15, 2021.
“Mayroon pong inaprubahan si Pangulong Duterte kahapon doon sa recommendation natin ng IATF, ng DOH na simula 12:01 ng Dec. 30 hanggang Jan. 15 ay hindi na tayo magpapapasok ng mga manggagaling sa 20 bansa na nakapag-ulat o nakapagtala ng bagong variant, ‘yung UK variant,” Duque said.
The health secretary clarified that returning Overseas Filipino workers from the said countries were allowed to enter but must undergo strict 14-day quarantine after undergoing a swab test. The declaration aims to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease.
“Antayin po natin ang desisyon ng Presidente. Magpapalabas po ng something in writing ang Office of the President. Ang alam ko po, highly recommended ng IATF at ng DOH ‘yung travel bans sa mga bansa na meron nang new [COVID] variants,” Harry Roque said.
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