Philippines bans travel from Oman and UAE

All travelers coming from Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or those with travel history to these two countries within the last fourteen (14) days preceding arrival shall be prohibited from entering the Philippines beginning 0001H of May 15, 2021 until 2359H of May 31, 2021, upon the recommendation of the Department of Health and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Passengers already in transit from the abovementioned countries and all those who have been to the same within 14 days immediately preceding arrival to the Philippines, who arrive before 0001H of May 15, 2021, shall not be subject to the above restriction, but shall nevertheless be required to undergo stricter quarantine and testing protocols, i.e. the observation of a fourteen-day facility-based quarantine period upon arrival, notwithstanding a negative Reverse Transcription – Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) result.

Meanwhile, all existing travel restrictions of passengers coming from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are extended until 2359H of May 31, 2021.

The Department of Transportation should ensure that airlines are directed not to allow the boarding of passengers who are prohibited from entering the country pursuant to travel restrictions imposed by the Office of the President and IATF resolutions except if they are part of the repatriation efforts of the national government.

Two cases of the COVID-19 variant from India or B.1.617.2, also known as the “double mutant” variant, were already detected in the country, but both have since recovered, according to authorities.