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DOH to await US official announcement before recommending travel ban

Philippines | National

DOH to await US official announcement before recommending travel ban

By Dhel Nazario

The Department of Health (DOH) will await the official announcement of the United States regarding a reported case of the new coronavirus strain in Colorado before including them in the travel ban.

Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire — Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN)

This was clarified by Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire after Health Secretary Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a press briefing on Wednesday that the US will be included in the expanded travel ban.

"We will wait for the US to officially notify to the WHO IHR or official announce by their govt regarding this new strain identified in Colorado before we include in our official list," Vergeire said in a message to reporters.

On Tuesday, the DOH said that it has recommended to impose travel restrictions on countries with the reported case of the new coronavirus variant.

The President then approved on the same day to have an expanded travel ban on foreign travelers from 19 countries which would take effect on December 30, 2020 12:01 a.m. until January 15, 2021, according to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque.

The countries are Denmark, Ireland, Japan, Australia, Israel, The Netherlands, Hong Kong, Switzerland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Lebanon, Singapore, Sweden, South Korea, South Africa, Canada, Spain.

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