The Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia has advised Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to postpone all non-essential trips to the Philippines as a precautionary measure to coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
In an advisory, the Embassy said that unless the traveler is going on a final exit and is not expected to return to the Kingdom anytime soon, he/she is highly encouraged to cancel his/travel to the Philippines.
The Philippines now has over 30 confirmed cases, prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to declare a state of public health emergency and announce cancellation of classes at all levels in Metro Manila.
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Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, has 20 confirmed cases as—the latest of which is the Egyptian transit traveler.
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The Embassy said that if the trip to the Philippines is absolutely necessary, Filipinos are advised to book a direct flight when returning to Saudi.
They also encouraged OFWs to monitor relevant announcements issued by the government authorities of the Kingdom including Saudi Ministry of Interior, Saudi Ministry of Health, General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), as well as the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia and the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah.
