Duterte approves 2-week extension on UK travel ban

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday night approved the extension of the travel ban for all flights from the United Kingdom, including those that transited from the UK, for another two weeks amid the new strain of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The recommendation was proposed by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in addition to other recommendations proposed by the Department of Health and the Technical Working Group of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

“In addition, can I add a fourth one, then? Propose a fourth one? An extension of the travel ban for all flights coming from the UK, including those that transited from the UK, for another two weeks?” Roque said in a live briefing.

The UK travel ban started on December 24, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. and was initially set to end on December 31, 2020.

”Okay, I accept that. It’s good. So it’s amended accordingly,” Duterte said.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, meanwhile, read out other recommendations which were eventually approved by the President.

"[For] countries with local community transmission of new variant, we'll consider travel restrictions only when transmission of new variant is at the community level," said Duque.

The President earlier said that a travel restriction was the best way was to play it safe amid the new COVID-19 strain.

“I’m telling you there is no way of knowing how this thing will evolve. It is evolving, itong new strain. But how far, how fast is the progression, wala pa tayong alam,” Duterte said.

“So the best way is really to play safe. You put a stop sa travel nila. That is good, kasali naman ‘yan diyan,” he added. — DVM/MDM, GMA News