Philippines mulls travel ban on Japan, Italy, Iran due to COVID-19 outbreak

The Philippines is studying the possibility of imposing a travel ban on Japan, Italy and Iran over coronavirus concerns.

In an interview with CNN Philippines on Friday, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease is monitoring the situation in these three countries that reported rapid increase in COVID-19 infections.

“Ayaw ko pangunahan but obviously the task force is looking at these two countries (Japan and Italy) as well, especially Italy,” Nograles said.

“Obviously Iran is something worth taking a look at also. Hindi natin puwedeng balewalain ang Iran because we still have Filipinos in Iran. More than a thousand Filipinos, mga kababayan natin ang naninirahan po diyan sa Iran so tinitignan din natin ‘yan.”

Nograles is a member of the task force.

At a separate press conference, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III confirmed that the task force is still studying the possibility of imposing travel restrictions to and from Japan.

“Any recommendation to include Japan for a possible selective or absolute ban is up for the task force to consider pending the submission by DOH ng risk assessment,” Duque said.

Local transmission of the virus and the volume of travelers were among the considerations being weighed.

Iran said on Thursday its death toll from coronavirus had risen to 26, and the total number of infected people now stood at 245, including its officials such as Masoumeh Ebtekar, the vice president for women and family affairs, and Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi.

Japan has tallied more than 200 coronavirus infections while Italy reported 17 deaths and 650 cases.

The Philippines currently implements a selective travel ban to and from China, Hong Kong, Macau, as well as South Korea to prevent the spread of the deadly virus that originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has killed more than 2,000 people in Chiina alone. —Virgil Lopez and Dona Magsino/KBK/RSJ, GMA News