As ordered by Malacañang, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has extended its travel ban covering seven Asian and Middle East countries hit by the highly contagious Indian coronavirus disease (COVID-19) variant.

These countries are india, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said airline and ship passengers from these countries will not be allowed to enter the Philippines from June 1 until June 15.

The original travel restriction expired on Monday, May 31.

The BI chief said passengers who have travel history from the said countries within the last 14 days prior to their arrival in the Philippines will not be allowed to enter.

However, transiting passengers from the seven countries, or those who did not leave the airport terminals, will be allowed to enter the Philippines, he said.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases had recommended the two-week extension of the travel ban in order to prevent the spread of the highly infectious virus, which has caused a massive surge in both infections and deaths in India.