Secretary Locsin opposes travel ban on Singapore over COVID-19

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. assailed the idea of imposing a travel ban on Singapore amid the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), saying  the state has demonstrated capability to contain the virus.

Locsin wrote on his official Twitter account on Friday declaring his opposition, as Singapore is on top of the dreaded disease.

I will not support a travel ban to & from ASEAN Singapore. A ban should hinge NOT on the incidence & # of infections/fatalities but on the demonstrated capability of the state concerned to contain the disease & strictly regulate ingress and egress from its air/sea ports

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) February 14, 2020

Singapore has 58 confirmed COVID-19 patients,  711 cases who tested negative, 15 discharged, and 82 with pending test results, a report from state-run PNA said.

A similar alert level was last imposed by Singapore during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier said he would present an assessment before the inter-agency task force about a possible travel restriction on Singapore. —LBG, GMA News