US to citizens: Do not travel to Philippines amid ‘high level’ of COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — The United States has advised its citizens against traveling to the Philippines due to the “high level of COVID-19” in the country.

“Do not travel to the Philippines due to COVID-19,” the U.S. State Department said in a travel advisory dated April 20.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for the Philippines due to COVID-19, indicating a very high level of COVID-19 in the country,” it added.

Further, it also noted that there are  restrictions in place affecting the entry of U.S. citizens to the Philippines.

Citing “unprecedented risk to travelers” from the COVID-19 pandemic, the state department earlier announced that it would enhance its “Do Not Travel” guidance to about 80 percent  of countries worldwide.

Most U.S. citizens have already been advised against traveling to most parts of Europe due to pandemic restrictions.

The U.S. likewise barred nearly all non-U.S. citizens who have recently been in most of Europe, China, Brazil, Iran and South Africa.

The Philippines logged 7,379 new infections on Tuesday, pushing the country’s COVID-19 tally to 953,106.

Currently, there are 127,006 active cases in the Philippines.

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