MANILA (Reuters) — The Philippines has prohibited the entry of foreign travelers from the United States after the more infectious new variant of the coronavirus was detected in Florida.
Passengers wearing personal protective equipment for protection against the coronavirus disease queue at the check-in counters of Emirates airline, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City, Metro Manila on July 9, 2020.
REUTERS
The travel ban, lasting until Jan. 15, covers those who have been to the United States within 14 days preceding arrival in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman said in a statement.
The measure expands the travel restriction that Manila announced on Tuesday, which initially covered passengers from 19 countries and territories and took effect from midnight of Dec. 29.
U.S. state health officials have detected the new variant of Covid-19, which has swept through the United Kingdom, in Florida, marking the third known U.S. state to identify such a case.’
Spokesman Harry Roque said the Office of the President decided to include the United States in the regulation on the recommendation of the health and foreign affairs departments.
Passengers from the United States who arrived before Jan. 3 were allowed to enter the Philippines, but they had to undergo a 14-day quarantine even if they had initially tested negative.
The restriction does not cover Filipinos traveling from the United States but they are also required to undergo a 14-day quarantine in a government facility when they arrive.
The new variant has not been detected in the Philippines.
With more than 475,000 confirmed infections and 9,248 deaths, the Philippines has the second highest number of Covid-19 cases and casualties in Southeast Asia after Indonesia.
