Duque warns of backlash if Sino travelers barred due to nCoV

Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2020 12:26:11 +0000

DUQUE

Diplomatic relations with Beijing may turn sour if Manila decides to bar entry into the country of mainland Chinese as part of preventive measures against the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus here.

Heath Secretary Francisco Duque issued this warning during the “Question Hour” conducted in the House of Representatives yesterday.

Duque told House members that a temporary ban on Chinese tourists has been among the options being studied by government to dodge the deadly coronavirus.

However, he said there may be serious “political and diplomatic repercussions” with such move.

The Health official responded to a question thrown by House Deputy Speaker and Antique Rep. Loren Legarda who said  government may be incapable of handling a medical crisis of the same proportion as that of the Wuhan outbreak.

Loren said prohibiting the entry of Chinese from Wuhan and other areas in China can be the prudent way to prevent a similar outbreak in the Philippines.

She asked Duque if it would be wiser and pro-active move to impose a temporary ban on “mainland (Chinese)” in any port in the Philippines.

“The confirmed cases are not limited to China,” Duque explained.

“If we do this, concerned countries, China in this case,
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