UK passengers banned from entering PHillippines starting 12/24

[Allovertheworld 355]

BI just put out a statement they are banning anyone to enter Philippines from UK or even transitioning from UK area starting 12/24

 

Just be aware in case you are catching a flight from USA and layover/catch another flight in UK area and go onto Philippines.

 

 

[Allovertheworld 355]

They have extended the ban until Jan 14th, "The ban follows news of a new strain of Covid-19 in the UK, which is reportedly 70% more infectious"

 

If that makes it to Philippines it may be locked down for years

 

Here is a BI release:

 

PRESS RELEASE

27 December 2020

BI to implement extended UK travel restrictions

PASAY, Philippines—Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente announced that the travel restrictions for arriving passengers who have been to the United Kingdom (UK) in the last 14 days has been extended.

According to Morente, as directed by President Rodrigo Duterte in last night’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) meeting, flights from the UK remain banned for two more weeks after December 31, 2020.

“Consequently, all passengers who have been to the UK in the last 14 days prior to arrival in the country are still restricted entry until January 14, 2021,” said Morente.

The ban follows news of a new strain of Covid-19 in the UK, which is reportedly 70% more infectious.

In related news, the BI vowed to expedite the Implementing Rules and Regulations for Executive Order No. 122 of the President on Strengthening Border Control Through the Adoption and Implementation of the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS).

The BI was initially given 60 days from the publication of EO 122 last December 15, but Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra recommended its immediate implementation to allow the BI to better trace origins and connecting flights.

“The API system is very timely, as apart from protecting the country from aliens with derogatory records, it would allow us to deny the boarding of passengers who have a travel history to the UK in the last 14 days, instead of having to detect them upon arrival in the country,” said Morente.

The APIS is an electronic communications system that collects biographic data on passenger or crew, which is transmitted to the BI prior to arrival, and allows for early vetting on the admissibility of an arriving alien.

Currently, the BI is implementing a strict 100% passport inspection to determine the travel history of arriving passengers in the last 14 days.

[flicks1998 1,044]

This has been extended to 20 countries now (US not on the list yet) but expected to be eventually.  This country is literally flipping out of this variant that has been around for the last 3-4 months anyway.  Because of this, all in-person classes are stopped for 2021.  The country is going backwards.

[Allovertheworld 355]

6 hours ago, flicks1998 said:

This has been extended to 20 countries now (US not on the list yet) but expected to be eventually.  This country is literally flipping out of this variant that has been around for the last 3-4 months anyway.  Because of this, all in-person classes are stopped for 2021.  The country is going backwards.

Philippines has stopped all in person classes for kids for 2021?

[flicks1998 1,044]

7 hours ago, Allovertheworld said:

Philippines has stopped all in person classes for kids for 2021?

That is what has been conveyed by the Dear Leader but who knows if its a knee-jerk reaction.  There were about 1400 or so schools who were supposed to do a trial run of in-person classes from Jan 11 to 23rd 2021, but then the concern from this UK variant put an immediate stop to that.  Once that was announced the dear Leader said all in person classes suspended for 2021.  So as of now, yes, but who knows in a month or two.  I just had a call this morning with the medical center I work at and they are quite positive this UK variant is and has been in the US since Canada has reported having it.  It was brought up as I do not want my flight canceled back home and if the US does report a case, the Philippines may add the US to the banned list.  

 

Also, this country is living in a pipe dream anyway in regards to this virus.  There is really no testing here (international arrivals and possibly certain provinces that let you do it to escape quarantine jail) but other than that, there is really no testing going on.  The positivity rate has to be sky-high but there is no "proof" of this as you see in the US or Europe with hospitals filling up and people dying.  With an average age of 23-24 years old, most Filipinos are asymptomatic or have very light symptoms and never need any hospital or medical care.  This UK variant is also probably already here anyway since it was first found in September and flights from the UK have been coming to Manila since then.  But there is so little testing done that nobody has a clue whats going on. 

[Allovertheworld 355]

7 hours ago, flicks1998 said:

That is what has been conveyed by the Dear Leader but who knows if its a knee-jerk reaction.  There were about 1400 or so schools who were supposed to do a trial run of in-person classes from Jan 11 to 23rd 2021, but then the concern from this UK variant put an immediate stop to that.  Once that was announced the dear Leader said all in person classes suspended for 2021.  So as of now, yes, but who knows in a month or two.  I just had a call this morning with the medical center I work at and they are quite positive this UK variant is and has been in the US since Canada has reported having it.  It was brought up as I do not want my flight canceled back home and if the US does report a case, the Philippines may add the US to the banned list.  

 

Also, this country is living in a pipe dream anyway in regards to this virus.  There is really no testing here (international arrivals and possibly certain provinces that let you do it to escape quarantine jail) but other than that, there is really no testing going on.  The positivity rate has to be sky-high but there is no "proof" of this as you see in the US or Europe with hospitals filling up and people dying.  With an average age of 23-24 years old, most Filipinos are asymptomatic or have very light symptoms and never need any hospital or medical care.  This UK variant is also probably already here anyway since it was first found in September and flights from the UK have been coming to Manila since then.  But there is so little testing done that nobody has a clue whats going on. 

That was my thought as well, they are just not testing people in the Philippines.  You confirmed my suspicion.  

 

I wouldn't be surprised if classes are cancelled for the 2021 school year, the way things are going with the COVID and the vaccine, it could be a couple of years before the majority of the people get the vaccine shot in the Philippine