The Philippines once again extended the restrictions on travelers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates and Oman, Malacañang announced on Wednesday. 

 

The travel ban, which was set to end on July 15, will stay in place until July 31, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said. 

 

Roque said the government’s inter-agency task force on pandemic response has been instructed to review and provide recommendations on the appropriate testing and quarantine protocols for people coming from countries where travel restrictions are enforced. 

 

The ban was implemented to prevent the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant in the country.

 

Health authorities in the Philippines have so far reported 19 cases of the Delta variant that originated from India. 

 

In a separate briefing, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the pandemic task force has recommended the inclusion of travelers from neighboring Indonesia to those banned from entering the Philippines. President Rodrigo Duterte has yet to issue a decision on the matter.

 

Studies suggest the Delta variant spreads more quickly and seems to have stronger resistance to vaccines than other forms of COVID-19. 

 

The Philippines is battling the second-worst COVID-19 outbreak in Southeast Asia with over 1.48 million cases and 26,092 deaths.