PH extends travel ban on 10 countries until Aug. 31

The Philippines has extended its travel restrictions on travelers from 10 countries amid the country's fight against the more contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the announcement after the Department

of Health (DOH) reported 177 new cases of the said variant on Thursday, bringing the total number of Delta infections to 627 as of August 12.

In his statement, Roque said the travel ban on the following countries was extended until the end of the month:

1. India

2. Pakistan

3. Bangladesh

4. Sri Lanka

5. Nepal

6. United Arab Emirates

7. Oman

8. Thailand

9. Malaysia

10. Indonesia

Earlier, Roque said restrictions were imposed on travelers from these countries to “prevent the further spread and community transmission of COVID-19 variants” in the Philippines.

He added that travel restrictions were subject to the same exceptions on repatriation and special commercial flights for Filipinos. However, they will be required to follow the prescribed testing and quarantine protocols.

The Delta variant first detected in India was reported to have paved the way for the deadly second wave of COVID-19 infections in the said country.

Last month, the government intensified the country’s border control to prevent the entry of COVID-19 variants of concern,

The spread of the Delta variant in the Philippines prompted President Duterte to approve the recommendation of the government's pandemic task to place several areas under the stricter quarantine classifications, including Metro Manila under a two-week Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) that will end on August 20.

The DOH has reported that the Delta variant has been detected in all cities and the lone municipality of Metro Manila.

Transit flights allowed Meanwhile, the Ninoy Aquino

International Airport (NAIA), the country's main gateway, my now allow transit flights but limited for the “green” countries after the government agreed to slightly ease the travel curbs.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has approved the request of airlines to resume international transit hub operations, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

The decision on resuming transit services at the Manila airport was reached by the government task force during a meeting Thursday, August 12, despite the country's rising coronavirus cases.

Roque, however, made clear that the resumption of the international

transit operations in NAIA would be subject to health protocols and other conditions.

“These international transit hub operations shall be limited to airside transfers between Terminals 1 and 2, and within Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and further limited for countries/ jurisdictions/territories in the Green List,” he said.

“As such, protocols for the controlled movement of passengers and health and safety protocols within the terminals shall be strictly observed,” he added.

Roque said any traveler who show coronavirus symptoms must comply with isolation and quarantine protocols that shall be “for the account of the sponsoring airlines.”