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Pedestrians pass a roadside public health warning sign amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, London, Britain, December 22, 2020. REUTERS / Toby Melville
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday backed President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to impose a temporary ban on all flights from the United Kingdom (United Kingdom) from Thursday to December 31 due to reports of a new strain of coronavirus.
The Secretary of Tourism, Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, reiterated that the guarantee of public health and safety has priority, even when the Inter-institutional Working Group for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) carefully reviews the restriction to the entry of foreigners to the country. “DOT said in a statement.
“With this temporary suspension, DOT identifies with affected families who would not be able to vacation with their loved ones from the UK,” added DOT.
According to presidential spokesman Harry Roque, Duterte approved the proposed travel ban Tuesday night.
Passengers who have been in the UK in the last 14 days, as well as those in transit, will be banned from entering the country.
Meanwhile, those already in transit from the UK, who will arrive in the country before 12 midnight on December 24, will not be subject to entry restrictions. However, they still have to adhere to strict quarantine and testing protocols.
“Outbound travel to the UK will also be subject to the existing UK and Philippines exit protocols,” explained Roque.
Countries that have imposed such a travel ban include the United Kingdom, including Canada, Italy, Turkey, Switzerland, Germany and Hong Kong.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson previously stated that the new coronavirus strain could be more infectious and could be “up to 70 percent more transmissible than the previous strain.”
EDV
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