Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 14) — Foreign travelers arriving in the Philippines from Italy and Iran will only be allowed to enter the country if they show medical certificates, the Bureau of Immigration said Saturday.
The bureau said those who have passed through the two countries in the past 14 days will have to prove they are free from the coronavirus disease officially known as COVID-19. This rule will be enforced beginning midnight of March 16 or Monday, it added.
“Passengers coming from, or have transited through Iran and Italy in the last 14 days, shall be required to present a medical certificate issued by competent medical authorities within the last 48 hours prior to arrival in the country certifying that they are COVID-2019 free,” said Jaime Morente, Immigration commissioner in a statement.
He said those who fail to present a medical certificate will be denied entry.
Italy has 9,172 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 463 deaths. It has the most number of cases in Europe, which the World Health Organization early announced as the new epicenter of the disease. Meanwhile, Iran tallied at least 10,075 confirmed cases and 429 deaths – the third highest number of cases after mainland China and Italy.
The new rules exempt Filipino citizens including their foreign spouse and children, holders of permanent resident visas and members of diplomatic corps, Morente said.
However, Filipino passengers and the foreign visitors who have medical certificates will all still have to undergo mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea may also exempt others based on “humanitarian considerations.”
The travel ban on China, Hong Kong, Macau and North Gyeongsang including Daegu and Cheongdo in South Korea is still in place, the agency maintained.
