Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 1) — The country’s top diplomat slammed the COVID-19 task force for imposing travel restrictions on Italy due to the Omicron variant, saying the move is straining ties.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Wednesday asked why the government is banning inbound travelers from Italy when only one imported case of the Omicron variant was recorded in the European country when the Philippines placed it under the Red List.
The official demanded that the IATF conduct a review of the travel restrictions based on scientific evidence.
“On the basis of the WHO Report of November 28, 2021 that there is ONE SOLITARY case of infection, IATF’s Data Analytics Group extrapolated a surge,” he said in a tweet. “Our famously warm relations with Italy went down the drain. I want a reconsideration based on science.”
Italy now has nine reported cases of the variant that are all linked to a traveler who arrived in the country from Mozambique, CNN quoted Italian authorities as saying on Wednesday.
The IATF earlier said only nations with local Omicron cases are placed under the Red List. The government is imposing an entry ban on travelers from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy from Nov. 28 until Dec. 15.
The Philippines has not yet detected a case of the Omicron variant.
