ICYMI: The DOH is not keen on recommending restrictions on travelers coming from China, where a massive COVID-19 outbreak has prompted other countries, including the United States, India and Japan to either impose or start planning tighter controls.
Bautista on Wednesday said the country should “be very cautious” of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, where an estimated 37 million people were reportedly infected in a single day last week.The Omicron subvariant BF.7, which has been blamed for the spike in cases in China, had been detected in the Philippines, based on the DOH’s latest biosurveillance report released this month.
According to Vergeire, the Philippines is “in a much better position” now despite of the presence of more contagious and immune-escaping COVID-19 strains. She noted also that no agency had the authority to impose border-tightening policies unilaterally—only the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases .“This has to go through IATF, which the DOTr is a part of, to be discussed further,” Vergeire said.Other countries have already imposed or are planning entry restrictions on travelers from China in fear of possible mutations that may result in more virulent strains and a new wave of COVID-19 cases.
The United States will impose mandatory COVID-19 tests on travelers from China beginning on Jan. 5, 2023.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
DOT, DOH: Existing protocolsare fine, amid China Covid fears - BusinessMirrorTHE Department of Tourism (DOT) believes the current entry protocols of the Philippines are enough to address any concerns on the arrival of Chinese tourists. The same view was shared by the Department of Health (DOH) despite the continuing spread of Covid infections in mainland China, citing the high rate of vaccination among Filipinos. In
Read more »
DOH to BOQ: Intensify quarantine protocols for travelers from China amid COVID-19 surgeThe Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said it has directed the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) to intensify quarantine protocols in handling travelers from China amid the surge of COVID-19 cases there.
Read more »
DOH sees no need to shut borders amid COVID-19 surge in ChinaMANILA, Philippines — There is no need for the country to shut or tighten its border control protocols amid the surging number of COVID-19 cases in China, Department of Health (DOH)
Read more »
IATF to discuss measures to deal with Covid-19 resurgence in China — DOHThe Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) will meet to discuss measures on how to deal with the resurgence of Covid-19 in China, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Friday, Dec. 30.
Read more »
DOH to buy ‘minimal number’ of bivalent Covid-19 vaccinesThe Department of Health (DOH) said it will initially purchase a “minimal number” of bivalent Covid-19 vaccines.
Read more »
DOH: 94.45% of target population vaccinated vs. COVID-19The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said 94.45% of the target population have already received vaccine shots against COVID-19.
Read more »