No travel restriction to Mideast, DFA clarifies
MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said it has not issued travel restriction to the Middle East in the wake of the continuing threat of the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus (MERS-CoV).
Speaking to reporters, Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said Filipinos are still free to travel to the Middle East.
But he advised them particularly the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to take safety precautions imposed by health officials.
“The DFA and the DOH (Department of Health) already issued a joint statement regarding precautions our OFWs should take,” Jose said.
He said the World Health Organization (WHO) has not declared an outbreak and has not recommended a travel restriction to the Middle East.
He said three of the five OFWS infected by the deadly virus have been released from quarantine and have been declared MERS-COV free.
Although the two other OFWs were already “out of danger,” they still have to undergo series of tests as required by United Arab Emirates (UAE) government.
On April 12, a Filipino health worker died after contracting the virus.
Her family, the DFA said, has agreed to cremate the remains of the OFW in UAE.
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