Duterte orders temporary UK travel ban over new Covid-19 variant

By Prince Golez

Following alarming reports of a new variant of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), all flights from the United Kingdom to the Philippines are suspended starting Thursday, Malacañang announced.

In a video message Wednesday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte approved yesterday evening the recommendation by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to suspend all flights from the United Kingdom from December 24 until December 31.

“All passengers who have been in the UK within 14 days immediately preceding arrival to the Philippines, including those merely in transit, are also temporarily restricted from entering the country for the same period,” according to him.

Roque said passengers already in transit from the UK and all those who have been to the UK within 14 days immediately preceding arrival to the Philippines, who arrive before 12:01 a.m. of December 24, will not be subject to entry restriction but they would be required to undergo stricter quarantine and testing protocols.

Such protocols include the observation of an absolute 14-day quarantine period at the Athlete’s Village in the New Clark City, notwithstanding a negative swab test result.

“Outbound travel to the UK shall likewise be subject to the existing exit protocols of the Philippines and the UK,” the Palace official added.

The post Duterte orders temporary UK travel ban over new Covid-19 variant first appeared on https://politics.com.ph.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)