Philippines Limits Manila Airport Arrivals As COVID-19 Cases Rise

The Philippines will limit foreign arrivals at its main Manila airport to 1,500 passengers per day for a month starting March 18, the Civil Aeronautics Board said, as coronavirus infections rose.

Philippine Airlines, in a Facebook post, said it could cancel some international flights. Some passengers will also have to postpone the trip to Manila to comply with immigration directives, the airline said. Most foreigners are still prohibited from entering the country.

The Philippines, which has the second-worst outbreak in Southeast Asia, reported daily cases above 4,000 for the fifth day on Tuesday, bringing total infections to more than 631,000. Its daily count has reached the highest level since August in recent days, but the increase is seen as having a limited impact on the economy.

Several tourist spots in the historic Intramuros district of the country’s capital will remain closed until further notice, its administrator said on his Facebook account. In recent weeks, the government allowed theme parks along with cinemas and conferences to resume operations as it sought to further reopen an economy that is likely to remain in recession this quarter.