GMA News
Uuwing OFWs, 'di kasama sa travel ban mula sa mga bansang may bagong variant ng COVID-19
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III clarified that Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) coming from countries with new COVID-19 variants can still return to the Philippines.
This clarification came after the travel restrictions were expanded to include more countries due to the new virus variant first detected in the United Kingdom.
Bello noted that President Rodrigo Duterte stated "Our OFWs should be allowed to return."
Returning OFWs will still be required to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine, even if they test negative for the virus prior to arrival.
An estimated 60,000 to 100,000 OFWs are expected to return to the Philippines.
A travel ban will be in effect from December 30, 2020, to January 15, 2021, prohibiting the entry of passengers from various countries, excluding returning OFWs.
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The Philippine government is considering extending travel restrictions to include Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) coming from countries with reported cases of the new COVID-19 variant.
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Returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are exempted from the expanded travel ban imposed by the Philippine government.
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The Philippines has temporarily suspended all flights from the United Kingdom from December 24 to December 31, 2020, due to concerns over a new variant of SARS-CoV-2.
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The Philippine government has extended the temporary suspension of flights from, and the prohibition of entry of travelers coming from or transiting through the United Kingdom until January 15, 2021.
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President Rodrigo Duterte has expanded the travel ban to 20 countries where a more infectious strain of COVID-19 has been detected.
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