The United Arab Emirates and Oman were added to the list of banned countries following the discovery that the two recent passengers with the Indian COVID-19 variant were from those countries. The travel restriction set by the Philippine Government will push through until May 31.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, travelers coming from UAE and Oman will not be allowed to enter the country starting May 15 until the end of May. For passengers who will be arriving in the country before the start of the ban will be allowed to enter but they have to undergo stricter quarantine as well as testing protocols.
Furthermore, arriving travelers from Oman and UAE will undergo a 14-day quarantine at the designated facility even with negative COVID-19 test results.
“Meanwhile, all existing travel restrictions of passengers coming from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka are extended until 2359H of May 31, 2021,” says Harry Roque.
The said restriction was implemented following the entry of two travelers from Oman and UAE that tested positive for a new variant of COVID-19 which has created havoc in India. The two new cases of COVID-19 were known as B.1.617.2 or the “double mutant’ variant.
But according to recent updates, both of these travelers already recovered.
