Manila Bulletin
OFWs exempted from ban of travellers from UK, 20 countries
Returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are exempted from the expanded travel ban imposed by the Philippine government.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte decided to allow OFWs to return.
Returning OFWs will still be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine period, even if they test negative for COVID-19.
The government has expanded the travel ban to 22 countries due to concerns over a new variant of the coronavirus first identified in the United Kingdom.
The suspension of flights from these affected countries will be in effect from December 30, 2020, to January 15, 2021.
Only OFWs, not their relatives or other balikbayans, are covered by the exemption.
The government expects some 60,000 to 100,000 OFWs to come home.
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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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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.
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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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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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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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