DOH doesn’t see Chinese travelers needing more restrictions

Department of Health’s Officer-In-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire answers queries of members of the media during the media forum on Tuesday, December 20, 2022. INQUIRER.net file photo / Noy Morcoso

MANILA, Philippines — Additional COVID-19 restrictions are not needed to be imposed for travelers coming from China, the Department of Health (DOH) believes.

In a forum on Friday, Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire was asked if the DOH plans to implement tighter restrictions for visitors coming from China, where a COVID-19 surge currently occurs.

“As to the additional restrictions in terms of what’s happening in China saka po ‘yung mga pumapasok sa atin galing sa China, whether it be foreign nationals or Filipinos, wala pa ho tayong nakikitang rason based on science and evidence, that we should add additional restrictions,” Vergeire responded.

(As to the additional restrictions in terms of what’s happening in China and those entering our country from China, whether foreign nationals or Filipinos, we do not see any reason, based on science and evidence, that we should add additional restrictions.)

Vergeire said that decisions should not just be based on the situation in China as an “interaction between and among the different populations across the globe has happened already.”

Currently, the DOH is implementing a heightened surveillance of travelers entering the Philippines.

The health official said the current protocols are “effective.”

Recently, eight unvaccinated Filipinos coming to the Philippines from China tested positive for COVID-19.

Several countries have already required COVID-19 tests for visitors coming from China.

JPV/abc