MANILA – The country extended the travel ban on foreign nationals until April 30 as cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continue to increase.
The ban, which took effect on March 22, was initially scheduled to end on April 21.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Friday said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) approved the extension as the National Capital Region Plus is under modified enhanced community quarantine until the end of the month.
However, entries of foreign nationals with valid entry exemption documents issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs before March 22 are allowed.
The exceptions also include diplomats, members of international organizations and their dependents, foreigners involved in medical repatriation, foreign seafarers under green lane programs for crew change, foreign spouses and children of Filipinos traveling with them, and emergency or humanitarian cases.
Meanwhile, the passenger arrivals at Manila’s international port were limited by the Civil Aeronautics Board to a maximum of 1,500 per day. This is to prevent the spread of the virus.
As of Thursday, the country has a total of 904,285 COVID cases, of which 183,527 are active cases.
The Department of Health also reported 148 new COVID-related deaths in its bulleting, pushing the country’s death toll to 15, 594./PN
