Duterte orders entry ban on all foreigners coming from China
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Sun, 02 Feb 2020 04:03:18 +0000
By ARGYLL B. GEDUCOS
DUTERTE
President Duterte has banned the entry of all nationalities, excluding Filipinos, from China, as the government tries to contain the spread of the 2019-novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD).
According to Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, the ban now covers the entire China, including its Special Administrative Regions Hong Kong and Macau. It does not cover Filipino citizens and Permanent Resident Visa holders.
“For clarity the ban is on the person of any nationality except that of Filipinos particularly specified above, coming directly from the places above-mentioned and arriving in the Philippines, and not of any flight,” he said Sunday morning.
In a statement, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said Duterte approved the guidelines recommended by the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to prevent the spread of the 2019-nCoV ARD
Duterte approved the temporary ban on the entry of any person, regardless of nationality, except Filipino citizens and holders of Permanent Resident Visa issued by the Philippine Government, directly coming from China and its Special Administrative Regions.
The ban likewise covers those who have been in the said places, except Filipinos and Permanent Resident Visa holders, immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines within 14 days.
The Task Force was also given the authority, if necessary, to ban the entry of travelers from other areas with confirmed widespread 2019-nCOV ARD.
Filipinos are now also temporarily banned from traveling to China and its Special Administrative Regions.
QUARANTINE FACILITY
President Duterte likewise approved the establishment of a repatriation and quarantine facility.
Meanwhile, heads of government departments and agencies, offices and instrumentalities, government-owned and-controlled corporations, state universities and colleges, and local government units were directed to adopt, coordinate and implement the said guidelines and other guidelines the Task Force may issue regarding the matter.