Manila Bulletin
DOH recommends imposing travel restriction on Hong Kong over new coronavirus variant
The Department of Health (DOH) recommends imposing travel restrictions on travelers from Hong Kong due to concerns over the new Omicron (B.1.1.529) coronavirus variant.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III confirmed that the DOH has formally recommended this action to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to prevent the variant's entry into the Philippines.
The Hong Kong government has already recorded two cases of the Omicron variant.
Duque emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue, especially with the approaching Christmas season, and that the matter is being carefully studied for immediate action.
This recommendation follows the World Health Organization's (WHO) declaration of the B.1.1.529 variant as a variant of concern and previous suspensions of flights from countries like South Africa and Botswana.
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Hong Kong has been placed on the "yellow list" for travelers entering the Philippines due to the emergence of the Omicron variant.
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The National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 clarified that inbound flights from Hong Kong are still allowed, pending a final recommendation from the Technical Working Group and a decision from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).
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