PH expands travel ban amid threat of new COVID-19 variant
FILE PHOTO: A computer image created by Nexu Science Communication together with Trinity College in Dublin, shows a model structurally representative of a betacoronavirus which is the type of virus linked to COVID-19, better known as the coronavirus linked to the Wuhan outbreak, shared with Reuters on February 18, 2020. NEXU Science Communication/via REUTERS
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will ban travelers coming from 20 countries with cases of the new COVID-19 variant starting Wednesday, Dec. 30, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the MIAA said the travel ban is imposed on the following countries:
- United Kingdom
- South Africa
- Switzerland
- Italy
- Denmark
- Israel
- Hong Kong
- Spain
- Ireland
- Netherlands
- Singapore
- Lebanon
- Japan
- Canada
- Germany
- Sweden
- Australia
- France
- Iceland
- South Korea
The new COVID-19 strain, which is said to be more infectious, emerged from the United Kingdom.
The Philippines earlier already imposed a travel ban on flights from the UK to prevent possible transmission.
JPV
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