The Philippines has extended until January 31, 2021 the travel restrictions on foreign travelers from over 30 countries to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus variant
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File photo January 15, 2021 THE Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has further extended travel restrictions imposed on over 30 countries with B.1.1.7 coronavirus cases for another two weeks until January 31, 2021.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), however, is still not on the list. The first B.1.1.7 case in the Philippines had traveled to Dubai, UAE.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said it will be President Rodrigo Duterte who will make the announcement if the recommendation to include the UAE is approved.
“The President will be the one to declare that, if ever. [The] list is for extension of restrictions and not for new,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
Philippines extends travel restrictions due to new coronavirus variant VIRGIL LOPEZ,GMA News Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jan. 12, 2021 The Philippines has extended until January 31, 2021 the travel restrictions on foreign travelers from over 30 countries to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus variant. In a statement Friday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the extension was approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) on Thursday. Covered by the travel restriction are travelers from the following countries: United Kingdom The entry ban was supposed to expire on Friday. The government first imposed the travel restrictions last December 24 covering only the UK, where the more transmissible variant was initially detected. It was then expanded to other countries.
The Health Department has refuted claims that a new coronavirus variant has already been detected in the Philippines, as it continued to appeal to netizens to stop spreading unverified information on the matter.
Department of Health Undersecretary and Spokesperson Ma. Rosario Vergeire (FILE PHOTO)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 6) Department of Health Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire has been named as head of a group of experts tasked to study new COVID-19 variants and suggest policies to the country s coronavirus task force.
In a statement, Malacañang said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on Tuesday created the Technical Working Group (TWG) on COVID-19 Variants upon the order of President Rodrigo Duterte. This Technical Working Group will monitor and identify the occurrence of new variants of COVID-19 in the country and will provide policy recommendations to the IATF on the appropriate response regarding these variants, the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson said.