Coronavirus: Select Filipinos exempted from Hong Kong travel ban

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coronavirus, filipinos, exempted, hong kong, travel ban

The deadly Covid-19 virus, which originated in Wuhan, China, was first detected in Hong Kong on January 22.

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Published: Thu 20 Feb 2020, 4:08 PM

Last updated: Thu 20 Feb 2020, 6:13 PM

Travel ban imposed by the Philippines government on Filipino nationals visiting Hong Kong and Macau amid the coronavirus scare, has been conditionally lifted.
The deadly Covid-19 virus, which originated in Wuhan, China, was first detected in Hong Kong on January 22 and since then 62 confirmed cases and two deaths were reported there. While in Macau, the number of confirmed cases was low compared to that in Hong Kong, and 10 people have tested positive.
According to reports in TFT, Filipino workers can now travel to Hong Kong and Macau but they need to sign a declaration stating they know about the risks involved, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday. "The travel ban exemption for OFWs working in Hong Kong and Macau is one of the decisions adopted at the 6th Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases," DFA said.
The exemption from the travel ban also applies to Filipino workers flying to Hong Kong and Macau for the first time provided they sign the declaration form available at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
On the other hand, Filipinos and their foreign spouses or children, as well as holders of diplomatic visas entry to the Philippines, will be placed in a 14-day quarantine.


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