Philippines imposes travel ban on inbound travelers from Indonesia

President Rodrigo Duterte has imposed a ban on inbound flights from Indonesia or those with travel history to Indonesia within the last 14 days preceding arrival in the Philippines amid a surge of COVID-19 cases in the neighboring country.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the ban on Indonesia takes effect at 12:01 a.m. of July 16, 2021 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on July 31, 2021.

Passengers already in transit from Indonesia and all those who have been to the same within 14 days immediately preceding arrival to the Philippines who arrive before 12:01 a.m. on July 16 will still be allowed to enter the country but will be required to undergo a full 14-day facility quarantine and present a negative Reverse Transcription - Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) result.

"This action is undertaken to prevent the further spread and community transmission of COVID-19 variants in the Philippines," Roque said.

Indonesia is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, posting record numbers in the last few days to reach a total of over 2.6 million confirmed cases.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said earlier Wednesday that the IATF was recommending a travel ban in response to the situation.

The Philippine government earlier extended the ban on inbound flights from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, United Arab Emirates and Oman until July 31 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roque made the announcement a day before the initial ban expires on July 15.

Only 3.5 million are fully vaccinated so far, way below the government's target of vaccinating 58 million by the end of the year. — BM, GMA News