Health Secretary Francisco Duque said Wednesday that Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease temporarily bans Filipinos from travelling in all parts of South Korea following the spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the East Asian nation.
“Any travel to South Korea will be temporarily suspended,” the health chief announced.
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Duque said exempted to the ban are permanent residents, overseas Filipino workers and students studying there to travel in virus-stricken province.
However, according to Duque they are required to sign a declaration signifying their knowledge and understanding of the risk involved prior to their travel.
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“The travel restriction will be reviewed and be evaluated in the next 48 hours based on new developments,” he added.
Earlier, Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo confirmed in a media briefing that the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease imposed a travel ban on travelers from the North Gyeongsang province of South Korea.
As of February 26, South Korea reported 169 new cases of COVID-19 bringing the total number to 1,146 cases.
