Philippines adds 6 countries to travel restrictions list over new coronavirus variant

The Philippines on Wednesday added six more countries that would be subject to travel restrictions to prevent the entry of the new coronavirus variant.

Foreign travelers coming from or who have been to Portugal, India, Finland, Norway, Jordan, and Brazil within 14 days preceding arrival in the Philippines will be refused entry to the Philippines starting 12:01 a.m. of January 8 until January 15, said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

Roque said the decision was made by the Office of the President upon the joint recommendation of the Department of Health and the Department of Foreign Affairs. The travel restrictions list now covers 27 countries/jurisdictions.

Foreigners who arrive before January 8 will be required to undergo a facility-based 14-day quarantine, even if they obtain a negative RT-PCR test result.

Filipino citizens will be allowed to enter the Philippines as long as they undergo screening for COVID-19 and facility-based quarantine.

In addition, all unaccompanied minor Filipino citizens coming from countries/jurisdictions where travel restrictions are in place will not be allowed entry from January 8 to January 15, except minors returning through the repatriation program of the national government. 

“These repatriated minors shall be turned over to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration house parent who, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), shall ensure the minors’ safety and their observance of quarantine protocols,” Roque said.

All unaccompanied minor Filipino citizens who are not part of the repatriation program of the national government, arriving before January 8 will be turned over to an authorized DSWD officer who can ensure the minors’ safety and their observance of quarantine protocols.

The Department of Health and the Philippine Genome Center said Wednesday that the new variant has not yet been detected in the country based on their analysis of 305 samples from hospitals and travelers. —LDF, GMA News