At least seven countries are restricting travelers who come from the Philippines, in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The International Air Transport Association collated a list of countries which implemented travel guidelines to stop the spread of the COVID-19 from their territories.
So far, the following countries which are restricting those who traveled to the Philippines:
1. Cook Island
2. French Polynesia
3. Kuwait
4. Saudi Arabia
5. Solomon Islands
In addition, The Filipino Times reported that (6) Palestine and (7) Qatar also have included the Philippines from the blacklist.
Among the six countries, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are two of the top destinations for Filipino overseas workers in the Middle East. The top recipient of OFWs worldwide has announced that it will no longer honor the tourist visas they have issued to passengers who come from the Philippines as well as in 24 other countries.
French Polynesia is likewise requiring passengers and airline crew who have been to the Philippines as well as in 16 other territories in the past 30 days to secure a medical certificate at most five days before arrival at the island. The medical certificate must confirm, too, that they are free from coronavirus.
Cook Island said it will bar passengers who have been in the Philippines and 16 other territories for the past 14 days.
Solomon Islands, meanwhile, said passengers from the Philippines and 24 other countries may be required to undergo 14-day quarantine or isolation period.
RELATED NEWS: Kuwait cancels medical certificate requirement for Filipinos, 9 nationalities
The Department of Health has confirmed 10 new coronavirus disease cases in the country, bringing the total COVID-19 cases to 20 as of Monday 4:30pm local time.
“We are maximizing all channels, including coordinating with PNP, for contact tracing,”
DOH Assistant Secretary Rosemarie Vergeire said in a media briefing.
The DOH said that they have identified 468 contacts of the six cases confirmed over the weekend. Six of them are now under isolation.
“Ngayon na nandito tayo sa estado na meron tayong local transmission, we are now transitioning to having home quarantine especially for those mild cases,” the heath offiicial added.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque added that the DOH has deployed additional surveillance teams to expedite contact tracing of the new cases.
The Epidemiology Bureau has identified 404 individuals who had close contact with patients 4-10. Some 155 have been assessed, 142 were placed under home quarantine, while 8 were categorized as Patients Under Investigation (PUI).
