The Bureau of Immigration on Monday said they will be implementing the latest directive from the national coronavirus task force on the updated Red List amid the threat of the new Omicron coronavirus variant.

 

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said Monday that in addition to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini and Mozambique, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) expanded the list to include Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and Italy.

 

The travel ban will cover those who will be coming from the Red List territories within the last 14 days prior to arrival, said Morente.

 

Filipinos assisted in their return via government and non-government repatriation and Bayanihan flights may still enter the country, but they will comply with health protocols as set by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), the BI chief added.

 

Meanwhile, those who are already in transit from the Red List countries who will arrive before November 30, may enter the country but they will also be subjected to BOQ protocols.

 

The task force has also closed the country’s borders to foreign tourists. Morente added: “The IATF deemed it necessary to suspend the entry of foreign tourists, given worldwide concerns over the Omicron variant.

 

 “For now, the current general travel restrictions stand.  Only Filipinos, balikbayan, and those with long term visas from green and yellow list countries may be allowed entry,” Morente explained.

 

BI Port Operations Division Chief Carlos Capulong meanwhile reminded airline companies to thoroughly inspect the document of to ensure that only those who will board are those allowed entry to the country.