NTF says flights from Hong Kong still allowed pending IATF ruling

The National Task Force Against COVID-19 clarified Sunday that inbound flights from Hong Kong is still allowed, pending a ruling of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF-EID) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases

Hong Kong is not on the Philippines' list of countries whose inbound flights are temporarily suspended due to the emergence of the new coronavirus variant from South Africa named Omicron.

In a statement, the NTF said it is awaiting the IATF's decision on the recommendation to add Hong Kong in the travel ban.

Last Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Omicron variant, which was first detected in Southern Africa, as a variant of concern.

An earlier news indicating the discovery in Hong Kong of the Omicron variant prompted the Philippine Department of Health (DOH) to recommend a ban on inbound from the territory.

Also, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III hinted at the possibility that the Omicron variant could change the COVID-19 downward trend in the Philippines.

“Until a formal announcement from the IATF is made, HK flights will still be allowed. We apologize for inconveniences that an earlier pronouncement may have caused,” NTF said.

NTF spokesperson Restituto Padilla Jr. earlier said in a radio interview that Hong Kong is already included in the list of countries with travel ban, citing paragraph A of the IATF Resolution No. 150-D which states “inbound international flights from South Africa, Botswana, and other countries with local cases or have likelihood to have occurrences of the B.1.1.1529 [Omicron] variant shall be temporarily suspended.”

“The government through favorable recommendations of the Department of Health (DOH) will work to ensure timely adoption of preemptive measures to prevent or delay the entry of new variants which have the potential for undermining public health,” NTF added. —LBG, GMA News