Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on the additional measures to address the COVID-19 new variant

Relative to the detection of a new South African COVID-19 variant, the Office of the President, through the Office of the Executive Secretary, prohibits the entry to the Philippines of foreign passengers coming from or who have been to Austria within fourteen (14) days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines effective January 10, 2021, 12:01 AM, Manila time until January 15, 2021.

Effective immediately, foreign passengers coming from, or who have been to Austria within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, arriving before January 10, 2021, 12:01AM, Manila time, shall be allowed to enter the Philippines. However, they shall be required to undergo an absolute facility-based 14-day quarantine period, even if they obtain a negative RT-PCR test result.

Also, effective immediately, Filipino citizens coming from, or who have been to Austria, within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, including those arriving after January 10, 2021, 12:01AM, Manila time, shall be allowed to enter the Philippines. However, they shall be required to undergo an absolute facility-based 14-day quarantine period, even if they obtain a negative RT-PCR test result.

Filipino and foreign passengers merely transiting through Austria shall be covered by the rules as provided in the Memorandum from the Executive Secretary dated December 31, 2020.

Meanwhile, the rules on incoming unaccompanied minor Filipino passengers as provided in the Memorandum from the Executive Secretary dated January 5, 2021, shall apply to such passengers coming from or who have been to Austria with the prohibition of entry taking effect on January 10, 2021, 12:01AM, Manila time.

The Office of the President further directs the Task Group on Returning Overseas Filipinos of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 and all local government units (LGUs) to make the necessary preparations for the implementation of strict quarantine and isolation in health facilities for those arriving, and for LGU-led monitoring for those quarantining at home, after January 15, 2021.

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