(UPDATED) Malacañang has confirmed that travelers from Indonesia will be included in the ban until July 31, 2021.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said the restrictions will begin at 12:01 a.m. of July 16 and end at 11:59 p.m. of July 31, 2021.
All travelers coming from Indonesia or those with travel history to Indonesia within the last 14 days preceding arrival in the Philippines will be covered by the ban.
Passengers already in transit from Indonesia and those with travel history to Indonesia, who arrive before 12:01 a.m. of July 16 may still be allowed entry in the Philippines but will be required to undergo a full 14-day facility quarantine despite a negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result.
“This action is undertaken to prevent the further spread and community transmission of Covid-19 variants in the Philippines," Roque said.
Indonesia’s epidemic curve is nearly vertical, with cases rising to record highs daily due to the Delta variant.
Based on the Johns Hopkins University tracker, Indonesia reported 47,899 new cases on July 13, bringing its seven-day average to 38,644.
It was the second time that daily cases surpassed 40,000 in Indonesia. A day earlier, on July 12, daily cases reached 40,427.
The Our World in Data tracker showed that 459,064 cases were recorded only in the last 14 days from June 30 to July 13.
Indonesia joins seven other countries covered by travel restrictions, which were imposed as a measure to prevent the entry of the highly contagious Delta variant, which originated in India.
The other countries are India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, United Arab Emirates and Oman. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)