Duterte bans travelers from UK, 19 other countries over new COVID-19 variant

President Rodrigo Duterte has imposed a ban on travelers coming from the United Kingdom and 19 other countries to the Philippines in light of the new variant of coronavirus spotted in these areas, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. said.

Roque, in a statement, said that travelers from the UK won’t be allowed entry to the Philippines until January 15, 2021—a ban that was initially scheduled to end by December 31.

The travel ban on visitors from UK has been extended to cover those coming from 19 other countries namely:

1. Denmark
2. Ireland
3. Japan
4. Australia’
5. Israel
6. The Netherlands
7. Hong Kong
8. Switzerland
9. France
10. Germany
11. Iceland
12. Italy
13. Lebanon
14. Singapore
15. Sweden
16. South Korea
17. South Africa
18. Canada and
19. Spain

Passengers who are already in transit and are expected to arrive before December 30, 2020, 12:01AM, from the 19 countries / areas listed above will not be prohibited from entering the country but will required to undergo an absolute facility-based 14-day quarantine period, notwithstanding a negative RT-PCR test result.

In addition, Filipino citizens coming from the abovementioned countries/areas will also be allowed to enter the Philippines but will be required to undergo an absolute facility-based 14-day quarantine period, notwithstanding a negative RT-PCR test result.

“The Office of the President, upon the joint recommendation of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Foreign Affairs, may impose restrictions to travelers coming from other countries that report the presence of the new variant of COVID-19,” Roque said. -NB, GMA News