The government is looking into the possible imposition of travel restrictions on Italy, Japan and Iran following the surge of cases of the new coronavirus, according to a Palace official.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the inter-agency task force continues to monitor the situation and study whether or not to implement any travel ban to these three countries.
“Ayaw ko pangunahan but obviously the Task Force is looking at these two countries as well especially since Italy, last count namin, it spiked now to 650 in Italy. Japan went up to 202. But if you look at the figures, mas mabilis ang spike sa Italy,” Nograles said in an interview over CNN Philippines Friday.
“Obviously Iran is something that we’re taking a look at also. Hindi natin puwedeng balewalain ang Iran because we still have Filipinos in Iran, about more than a thousand na mga kababayan natin ang naninirahan po diyan sa Iran so tinitingnan din po namin iyan,” he added.
The new coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China, has rapidly spread to several countries in recent weeks, causing the death and illness of thousands of people. Recently, coronavirus cases have jumped in Italy, Japan, Iran, and South Korea.
Wider travel ban
on SoKor proposed
The Philippine government, meanwhile, will assess whether it would expand the travel restrictions on visitors coming from other places in South Korea, according to Nograles.
For now, travelers from North Gyeongsang, South Korea are prohibited entry to the country, Nograles said.
“Within the next 48 hours, we will do the assessment and reassessment. So now that malapit na yung 48 hours, wala pa naman siguro tayong babaguhin sa travel ban meaning to say hindi pa expand sa entire South Korea,” he said.
“But we will continue to monitor this even during the weekend as it progresses and then by Monday or Tuesday next week, if there is any announcement, we will let the public know,” he said.
Manila has already prohibited Filipino tourists from heading to South Korea as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus. Exempted from the ban are Filipino workers, students and permanent residents of South Korea who are asked to sign a written statement that they know the health risks. Travelers from North Gyeongsang, South Korea are temporarily barred from entering the country.
Nograles said these travel restrictions, approved by the task force, are “effective immediately.”
He noted the South Korean government has given an assurance that those traveling to the Philippines did not pass through the coronavirus-hit province.
Meantime, the government is prepared to facilitate the repatriation of Filipinos in Macau amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus.
Nograles said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is coordinating the efforts on the repatriation of these Filipinos who wanted to come home. “That is being set in motion. We are just finalizing the details,” he said.
More quarantine
facilities eyed
According to Nograles, the government has identified other possible quarantine facilities such as Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija in the event more Filipinos will be repatriated from coronavirus-hit places.
At present, the newly built athlete’s village in New Clark City in Tarlac is used as quarantine center for Filipinos repatriated from Wuhan, China as well as those from a coronavirus-hit cruise ship in Japan.
“In case we need to repatriate more of our countrymen from other countries including Macau, then Fort Magsaysay is something that we are looking at,” he said.
“We are also preparing for any eventually that we may need quarantine facilities in Visayas and Mindanao. That’s also being currently prepared. We have identified several potential sites for quarantine in Visayas and Mindanao.
Again, these are all just in preparation for the worst case scenario. It’s better prepared and we are prepared for any eventuality,” he said. (Genalyn Kabiling)