The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on Tuesday reminded medical workers that they are prohibited from being deployed overseas amid the Covid-19 crisis.

IATF Resolution No. 64 read: “Considering the continuing State of Public Health Emergency, the overseas deployment of the medical and allied health workers is hereby temporarily suspended pursuant to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration Governing Board Resolution No. 09, series of 2020.”

Palace and IATF spokesman Harry Roque said: “Mas nangangailangan po tayo ngayon ng ating mga health professionals dahil nga noong two weeks ago, humihingi ng time out iyong ating mga frontliners.”

“So iyan po ang kadahilanan, in addition to the fact na pinag-iingatan din natin ang kalusugan nila … kung pupunta sila sa mga lugar na mas maraming Covid cases,” he said in a virtual press briefing.

Roque said he the ban would last until the Covid-19 crisis fell under control.

The IATF told the Department of Health and government hospitals to hire medical workers “to supplement their current workforce.” John Ezekiel J. Hirro