Chinese from areas outside travel ban can enter PH, says gov't

A Philippine travel ban that aims to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus is not a blanket prohibition against the entry of all Chinese nationals, but only of travelers from 4 areas struck by the disease, the Bureau of Immigration said Wednesday. 

The travel ban covers China, its special administrative regions Hong and Macau, as well as Taiwan, which Beijing views as its territory. 

Those who did not travel to these 4 areas in the last 14 days can enter the Philippines, said Immigration Spokesperson Dana Sandoval. 

"Ang logic behind it is that hindi naman po iyong nationality ang pinipili ng sakit but the areas po kumakalat (the disease does not target certain nationalities, but rather, areas)," she told DZMM. 

Believed to have emerged last year in a market that sells wild animals, the new coronavirus had killed 1,110 and infected 44,200 in China, authorities said early Wednesday. 
 
The Philippines has confirmed 3 novel coronavirus cases, including 1 death, all from Wuhan. 

• DOH launches novel coronavirus tracker website

DZMM, Feb. 12, 2020