MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte finally agreed for temporary travel ban on travelers from Wuhan City and the entire province of Hubei, the epicenter of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
The confirmation on travel ban came a day after the Philippines recorded first confirmed case of the deadly Wuhan virus.
READ: DOH confirms first novel coronavirus case in the Philippines
The President and concerned government officials are also studying the possibility of imposing temporary travel restrictions for those coming from other places affected by the infection.
Go also announced that a meeting has been scheduled by the President next week with medical experts and key government officials to discuss all necessary measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
On Thursday, several senators also expressed their appeal for Malacañang Palace to impose travel restrictions to and from China.
"I urge the government to immediately impose a travel ban on all individuals traveling from China, and all travelers who have passed through China in the past two weeks," Senator Risa Hontiveros said in a statement.
Senator Joel Villanueva said the government must prioritize the safety and security of our people over other considerations.
Currently, the 2019-nCoV has killed at least 170 and infected nearly 8,000, spreading from its epicenter in Wuhan to several countries in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.
In the Philippines, twenty-three (23) PUIs are currently admitted and five (5) have been discharged but are still under strict monitoring. DOH also reported one PUI mortality, the 29-year-old Chinese man from Yunnan, China who died of pneumonia at San Lazaro Hospital.
— The Summit Express
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| President Rodrigo Duterte approved temporary travel ban to those who will be coming from Wuhan City and entire Hubei province | Photo Credit: Facebook/Senator Bong Go |
The confirmation on travel ban came a day after the Philippines recorded first confirmed case of the deadly Wuhan virus.
READ: DOH confirms first novel coronavirus case in the Philippines
"Nais ko pong ipaalam sa publiko na nakausap ko po si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte kanina at inirekomenda ko ang pag-impose ng temporary travel ban upang maprotektahan ang ating mga kababayan sa pagkalat ng Coronavirus," Go said in a statement on Friday morning.
"Sang-ayon po si Pangulo na iimplementa ang temporary travel ban sa mga manggagaling mula Wuhan City and the entire Hubei province ng China," the statement added.
The President and concerned government officials are also studying the possibility of imposing temporary travel restrictions for those coming from other places affected by the infection.
Go also announced that a meeting has been scheduled by the President next week with medical experts and key government officials to discuss all necessary measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
"Rest assured that the Duterte administration takes this threat seriously. I am appealing to the public to cooperate with authorities in order to ensure the safety of everyone," Go concluded.
On Thursday, several senators also expressed their appeal for Malacañang Palace to impose travel restrictions to and from China.
"I urge the government to immediately impose a travel ban on all individuals traveling from China, and all travelers who have passed through China in the past two weeks," Senator Risa Hontiveros said in a statement.
Senator Joel Villanueva said the government must prioritize the safety and security of our people over other considerations.
Currently, the 2019-nCoV has killed at least 170 and infected nearly 8,000, spreading from its epicenter in Wuhan to several countries in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.
In the Philippines, twenty-three (23) PUIs are currently admitted and five (5) have been discharged but are still under strict monitoring. DOH also reported one PUI mortality, the 29-year-old Chinese man from Yunnan, China who died of pneumonia at San Lazaro Hospital.
— The Summit Express
