Foreigners with valid visas allowed to enter Philippines
Published on: Saturday, January 23, 2021
By: PNA
‘Those who arrive for medical and emergency cases are now subject to applicable testing and quarantine protocols.’
MANILA: Despite the travel restrictions due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, foreigners with valid visas can enter the Philippines but are subject to strict health and quarantine protocols, Malacañang said on Friday.This, after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) amended its earlier resolution on all foreign travellers covered by travel restrictions imposed due to the new Covid-19 variant.
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The IATF-EID, in its Resolution 95, allowed foreigners with valid visas, including personnel of accredited international organisations, and spouse and minor children of Filipino citizens, to visit the Philippines, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement.
“Those who arrive for medical and emergency cases, including their medical escorts, if any, are now subject to applicable testing and quarantine protocols as prescribed by the Department of Health (DOH),” Roque said. On Jan 15, the Philippines extended the travel ban on over 30 countries with confirmed cases of B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 variant, otherwise known as the United Kingdom (UK) variant, until the end of January.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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Included in the travel ban list are UK, Denmark, Ireland, Japan, Australia, Israel, the Netherlands, China, Hong Kong, Switzerland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Lebanon, Singapore, Sweden, South Korea, South Africa, Canada, Spain, the United States, Portugal, India, Finland, Norway, Jordan, Brazil, Austria, Pakistan, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and Hungary.
The travel restriction was implemented after the country recorded the first case of the new variant. The Department of Foreign Affairs on Jan. 17 warned the public against unscrupulous individuals offering fake travel exemption certificates to foreigners who wish to enter the Philippines.