DOH to regularly update travel ban list due to new coronavirus variant

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) will keep updating the list of countries whose residents will be banned from entry into the Philippines to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus variant.

The DOH issued the statement on Tuesday as more countries report the presence of the variant.

The DOH said it will make recommendations, along with the Department of Foreign Affairs, on which countries to include in the ban.

A country may be covered by travel restrictions if its government reports the detection of the variant in its official channels or makes an official notification to the International Health Regulations.

The DOH said it would not consider unofficial reports, which include those reported by media outlets.

The travel ban currently covers 20 countries where the new COVID variant, which is believed to be more contagious, has been detected.

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