Philippines to Lift COVID Travel Ban on Bangladesh, Nine Other Countries

The Philippines will remove the travel ban for all inbound visitors from ten countries, including Bangladesh from Monday, according to a presidential spokesperson.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement that the ban, put in place in April then expanded to more countries in July to prevent the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus, will be lifted on Monday, reports the Hindustan Times.

President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines has approved the Covid-19 task force's suggestion to ease travel restrictions in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Roque said that travellers from these 10 countries will have to spend 14 days in quarantine upon arrival. "International travellers coming from the above-mentioned countries shall, however, comply with the appropriate entry, testing, and quarantine protocols," Roque said in a statement.

However, foreign tourists are still banned from entering the country except for holders of special visas such as diplomats and foreign spouses of Filipino citizens.