PRESIDENT Duterte has approved the ban on travelers from Indonesia from July 16 to 31 amid the rising number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Delta variant cases in the world’s largest archipelago.
Duterte’s approval came after Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) extended the travel ban on travelers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, United Arab Emirates, and Oman until the end of the month to prevent the entry and spread of the Delta variant in the country.
“The Palace confirms that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has approved the travel restrictions for all travelers coming from Indonesia or those with travel history to Indonesia within the last fourteen (14) days preceding arrival in the Philippines. Beginning 12:01a.m. of July 16, 2021 until 11:59 p.m. of July 31, 2021, such travelers shall be prohibited from entering the Philippines,” Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.
Roque said passengers already in transit from Indonesia, and all those who came from the said country within 14 days immediately preceding July 16, will be allowed entry but will be required to undergo a full 14 -day facility quarantine notwithstanding a negative Reverse Transcription – Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) result.
“This action is undertaken to prevent the further spread and community transmission of COVID-19 variants in the Philippines,” Roque said.
Indonesia recorded 47,899 new cases last Tuesday which it suspects was due to the Delta variant. It has reportedly been recording more than 40,000 cases daily for the past days, up from less than 10,000 cases a month ago.
At least 104 countries have now been affected by the Delta variant, which is said to be more infectious and deadlier than the original virus and other variants.
At least 19 people in the Philippines, all travelers, have been affected with the Delta variant but there has been no local transmission so far.
Roque said the government has strengthened its border control to prevent the entry or at least control the spread of COVID-19 variants by imposing protocols such as the 10-day facility-based plus four-day home-base quarantine and the seventh day polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
“We continue to prepare for the entry of that Delta variant. We continue to increase our healthcare capacity, we continue to put up additional ICU beds, isolation beds and temporary treatment and monitoring facilities. We also strengthened our border patrols to prevent the entry of that Delta variant,” he said.
He said minimum health protocols such as the wearing of face masks and face shields, washing of hands, and observance of social distancing are still being observed.
The IATF, through Resolution 126 issued on July 13, extended the travel ban on travelers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, United Arab Emirates, and Oman until July 31.
The IATF said “the implementation of proactive measures and restrictions must be put in place to slow down the surge in COVID-19 cases, stop further spread of variants, buy time for the health system to cope, and to protect more lives.”
It also directed its technical working group to further review and make recommendations, if necessary, on the appropriate testing and quarantine protocols for passengers coming from these countries and the other nations that are classified as high risk areas.
CQ CLASSIFICATIONS
Roque said the IATF is still finalizing the latest quarantine classifications for provinces and cities that were previously under the general community quarantine (GCQ), GCQ with restrictions, GCQ with high restrictions and modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) until July 15.
He said the IATF already has an initial recommendation on the quarantine classification but has given local government units (LGUs) a day to appeal the decision.
“There is already a decision but the LGUs are given until today to appeal. So I am not at liberty to announce the final quarantine classification because the IATF needs to meet to discuss the pending appeals,” he said.
He reiterated that the quarantine classifications are based on the average COVID-19 daily attack rate, average two-week attack rate and hospital and healthcare utilization rate.
The National Capital Region, Bulacan and Rizal are under GCQ with restrictions until July 15 while Cavite and Laguna are under the GCQ with heightened restrictions during the same period
Areas under the normal GCQ from July 1 to 15 include Batangas, Quezon province, Baguio City, Ifugao province, city of Santiago, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Guimaras, Aklan, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Antique, Capiz, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga City, Iligan City, General Santos City, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Cotabato, South Cotabato, and Cotabato City, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Sur.
Placed under the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until July 15 are the cities of Butuan, Davao, Iloilo, Naga, Lucena, Cagayan de Oro, and Puerto Princesa; and the provinces of Cagayan, Apayao, Bataan, Negros Oriental, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Sur.
