More countries were included Wednesday in the Philippines' travel ban to prevent the entry of a new COVID-19 virus variant, Malacanang said.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said foreign travelers from Portugal, India, Finland, Norway, Jordan, and Brazil or those who have been to the said countries within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, will be prohibited from entering the country effective 12:01 a.m. of Jan. 8 until Jan. 15.
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Travelers from the said areas who will arrive in the Philippines before Jan. 8 will be allowed entry, Roque said, noting that they should undergo a 14-day facility-based quarantine even if they test negative for COVID-19.
The Philippines' travel ban initially included only the UK, where the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 was first detected. The list now includes:
- Portugal
- India
- Finland
- Norway
- Jordan
- Brazil
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Denmark
- Ireland
- Japan
- Australia
- South Africa
- Israel
- Netherlands
- Canada
- France
- Switzerland
- Hong Kong
- Singapore
- Germany
- Iceland
- Italy
- Spain
- Lebanon
- Sweden
- South Korea