DOH, DFA recommend travel ban on 6 more countries with new coronavirus variant

The Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) have recommended travel restrictions on six more countries that have detected the new coronavirus variant, an official said Wednesday.

"Apart from the 21 countries that have already been announced, the Department of Health and the Department of Foreign Affairs have recommended the addition of 6 countries with official reports confirming the detection of this UK variant," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said at a press briefing.

The six countries were not yet identified.

The new variant was first detected in the United Kingdom.

In December, the government imposed travel restrictions on passengers from the following countries, effective until January 15:

• United Kingdom
• Switzerland
• Denmark
• Hong Kong
• Singapore
• Ireland
• Japan
• Germany
• Australia
• Iceland

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• South Africa
• Italy
• Israel
• Spain
• Netherlands
• Lebanon
• Canada
• Sweden
• France
• South Korea

Filipinos will be allowed to enter the Philippines but will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine even if they tested negative for COVID-19.

Health authorities are now awaiting information from the Hong Kong government after it reported that a traveler from the Philippines tested positive for the new coronavirus variant.

The Philippine Airlines said the passenger presented a negative COVID-19 test result before flying to Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, the DOH and the Philippine Genome Center said the new variant has not yet been detected in the country. This statement is based on their analysis of 305 samples from hospitals and travelers. -NB, GMA News