The Philippines will prohibit the entry of foreign travelers from India starting Thursday, April 29, Malacañang announced on Tuesday.
In a statement, Palace spokesman Harry Roque said the ban would start at midnight on April 29 and last until May 14.
India has recorded 676,135 in the past 48 hours.
The surge in Covid-19 cases in the country was described by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “heartbreaking.”
“WHO is doing everything we can, providing critical equipment and supplies,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
Foreign passengers coming from or who have been to India within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, arriving before midnight of April 29 will be allowed to enter the country.
However, they will be required to undergo a facility-based 14-day quarantine even if they obtain a negative RT-PCR test result, Roque said.
“Restrictions as to travelers coming from other countries that report the new strain may be imposed by the Office of the President upon the joint recommendation of the Department of Health and the Department of Foreign Affairs,” Roque said.
India has more than 17.6 million Covid-19 cases, with almost 200,000 deaths.
The Philippines meanwhile has recorded 1,013,618 Covid-19 cases. John Ezekiel J. Hirro