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MANILA, Philippines – A ban on travel to other countries would only be considered once there is already a community transmission of the new coronavirus variant there, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said on Saturday.
This comes amid reports that the new SARS-CoV-2 strain first detected in the United Kingdom (United Kingdom) has already reached countries such as Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia.
“Only consider the travel ban, Mr. President, if the new variant is already at the community transmission level in that country (UK),” Duque said in a meeting with President Duterte and members of the Cabinet.
(We only consider the travel ban, Mr. President, if the new variant in that country is already at the community transmission level.)
Duque’s office clarified that the head of the DOH was referring to countries with reported cases of the new variant, not just the UK.
The new strain of SARS-CoV-2 is believed to be up to 70% more infectious than the original variant.
Several countries have already imposed a travel ban on the UK, including Canada, Italy, Turkey, Switzerland and Germany, to prevent entry of the new strain.
The Philippines initially suspended flights from the United Kingdom from December 24 to December 31.
READ: Countries ban flights to UK as Britain says new virus strain is ‘out of control’
Subsequently, President Rodrigo Duterte approved a recommendation to extend the UK travel ban for two more weeks.
Duque said that the Interagency Working Group on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases will review the directive on the suspension of flights before it expires and the new risk classification of different areas of the country.
The head of Health also recommended that travelers from countries confirmed with the new variant of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, complete a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
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For more news on the new coronavirus, click here.
What you need to know about the coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
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