Ninoy Aquino International Airport (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — The imposition of a travel ban on Malaysia and Thailand amid the threat of the more transmissible COVID-19 Delta variant is now only awaiting the final go-signal, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Friday.
“We have been preparing for this (Delta variant). Nagpatupad tayo ng four-door strategy natin. Yung door one, nag-impose tayo ng travel restrictions. Pinakahuli yung Indonesia at baka mamaya, makasama na ang Malaysia at Thailand. Inaantay lang natin yung go-signal sa taas,” Duque said in a Teleradyo interview.
“Ito kasi yung mga bansa na mataas yung kanilang Delta variant cases,” he added.
He said the announcement on the travel ban will likely be made later in the day.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES)
The latest country to be included in the travel restrictionswas Indonesia amid its surge of COVID-19 infections. The travel ban for the neighboring country started on July 16 and will end on July 31.
Aside from Indonesia, the travel ban, which will likewise lapse at the end of July, also covers India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman.
On Thursday, the Department of Health confirmed the local transmission of the COVID-19 Delta variant.
The health department also reported the detection of 12 more local cases of the Delta variant, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 47.