Amid mounting COVID-19 cases, BI poised to bar travelers from India | Inquirer News

Amid mounting COVID-19 cases, BI poised to bar travelers from India

By: - Reporter / @zacariansINQ
/ 02:31 PM April 28, 2021

Health workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) carry wood to prepare a funeral pyre for a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) victim during a mass cremation at a crematorium in New Delhi, India, April 26, 2021. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

Health workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) carry wood to prepare a funeral pyre for a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) victim during a mass cremation at a crematorium in New Delhi, India, April 26, 2021. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

MANILA, Philippines — As COVID-19 cases and deaths mount in India, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it is now preparing to refuse entry to travelers coming from the said country starting Thursday.

According to BI Commissioner Jaime Morente, the entry of travelers coming from India or those with a travel history to India within the last 14 days are barred from entering the Philippines.

Article continues after this advertisement

This came after the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) announced on Tuesday that the Philippines will bar the entry of travelers from India starting April 29 to May 14.

FEATURED STORIES

“We will implement this measure seen by the IATF as our response to the emerging situation in India,” said Morente in a statement on Wednesday.

“The IATF deems that this proactive restriction must be put in place to slow down the surge in COVID-19 cases, stop further spread of variants, and allow the health system to prepare, essentially protecting more lives,” Morente said.

Article continues after this advertisement

Meanwhile, BI Port Operations Division Chief Atty. Carlos Capulong clarified that the travel ban is not “nationality-specific,” meaning the ban applies to anyone coming from the region.

Article continues after this advertisement

“We are conducting 100% passport inspection to determine the travel history of an arriving person,” said Capulong.

Article continues after this advertisement

“If we see that the traveler has been to India within the last 14 days, then he will be excluded and boarded on the next available flight back to his port of origin,” he added.

Capulong added that they are not expecting incoming passengers from India as the IATF resolution clearly stated that airlines are directed not to allow the boarding of passengers pursuant to travel restrictions.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Passengers already in transit who will arrive before April 29 may be allowed, but will be referred to the appropriate agencies for stricter quarantine and testing protocols, to be subjected to an absolute facility-based 14-day quarantine period,” Capulong explained.

On Tuesday, April 27, India reported 323,144 new cases, bringing the country’s overall caseload to 17.64 million.

While the country’s death toll now stands at 201,187, as of Wednesday, April 28.

The rise in cases was triggered by the spread of a COVID-19 variant dubbed as the “Double Mutant” variant — formally named B.1.617 — which was first detected in the South Asian nation.

According to the World Health Organization, the said variant is found in at least 17 countries worldwide.

The Department of Health, however, affirmed that the variant has yet to be detected in the Philippines.

To date, the variants detected in the Philippines are those that were first discovered in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil

RELATED STORIES

Bodies pile up as COVID-19 overwhelms India

COVID-19 situation in India ‘beyond heartbreaking’—WHO chief

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

‘Double mutant’ COVID-19 variant, complacency worsened outbreak in India – PH envoy

/MUF

For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.

The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link.

TAGS: COVID-19, India

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.