FOREIGNERS from six more countries with reported cases of the Covid-19 variant are now banned from entering the Philippines.

Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente said the new restrictions apply to travelers who will arrive from Portugal, India, Finland, Norway, Jordan and Brazil.

These countries are in addition to the 21, which were subjects of travel restrictions earlier announced by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) in an effort to prevent the entry of travelers infected by the new coronavirus strain.

In view of the expanded restrictions, Morente said foreign passengers coming from the six countries within 14 days from their arrival in the Philippines will be prohibited from entering the country from January 8 until January 15.

“Filipino citizens who have been to these countries within 14 days before arrival in the Philippines shall be allowed entry but shall be referred to the airport’s one-stop-shop to undergo a strict 14-day quarantine,” the BI chief added.

Earlier, the government imposed a travel ban on travelers from the United Kingdom, Denmark, Ireland, Japan, Australia, Israel, The Netherlands, Hong Kong SAR, Switzerland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Lebanon, Singapore, Sweden, South Korea, South Africa, Canada, Spain and the United States.

BI Port Operations Division Chief Candy Tan said they are ready to implement travel restrictions set by Malacanang.

“We’ve seen very low numbers [of arrivals] during the holiday season, it was a period unlike any other. We’re expecting even lower numbers during the first quarter of 2021, given the latest development on the new strain of Covid-19,” she said.

Tan said no foreign passengers from the additional six countries have arrived since the implementation of the expanded travel restriction.

The BI clarified that diplomats coming from the 27 restricted countries are allowed to enter the country.

Tan said foreign diplomats and international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations will be exempted from the travel restriction.

“Those with valid 9(e) visas may be allowed entry without the need for an exemption or authorization from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). But those who present a diplomatic, official, or regular passport with no valid 9(e) visa may also be provided entry if they have a valid 9(a) visa and authorization from the DFA,” Tan stated.

“Apart from foreign diplomats, those who are coming for medical and emergency cases, including their medical escorts, if any, shall also be allowed entry provided that they have an entry visa,” she added.