Philippines bans foreigners from Austria amid South African coronavirus variant

The Philippines has prohibited the entry of foreign travelers from Austria following the detection of a new  South African  COVID-19 variant, Malacanang announced Friday night.

The directive will be effective beginning  January 10, 2021, 12:01 AM, Manila time until January 15, 2021.

"Foreign passengers coming from, or who have been to Austria within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, arriving before January 10, 2021, 12:01AM, Manila time, shall be allowed to enter the Philippines.  However, they shall be required to undergo an absolute facility-based 14-day quarantine period, even if they obtain a negative RT-PCR test result," the Palace said.

It also ordered Filipino citizens coming from, or who have been to Austria, within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, including those arriving after January 10, 2021, 12:01AM, Manila time, shall be allowed to enter the Philippines.  However, they shall be required to undergo an absolute facility-based 14-day quarantine period, even if they obtain a negative RT-PCR test result.

Filipino and foreign passengers merely transiting through Austria shall be covered by the rules as provided in the Memorandum from the Executive Secretary dated December 31, 2020.

Meanwhile, the rules on incoming unaccompanied minor Filipino passengers as provided in the Memorandum from the Executive Secretary dated January 5, 2021, shall apply to such passengers coming from or who have been to Austria with the prohibition of entry taking effect on January 10, 2021, 12:01AM, Manila time.

The Task Group on Returning Overseas Filipinos of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 and all local government units (LGUs) were also instructed to make the necessary preparations for the implementation of strict quarantine and isolation in health facilities for those arriving, and for LGU-led monitoring for those quarantining at home, after January 15, 2021.

Malacanang also earlier announced that starting 12:01 a.m. on January 8 until January 15, 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.

Travel restrictions to 21 other countries were also earlier imposed to contain the spread of the new variant.—Virgil Lopez/LDF, GMA News