MUSCAT: The Philippines has extended a ban on travellers from Oman and nine other countries to the end of August because of concerns posed by the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus, the presidential spokesperson said on Friday.
President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the coronavirus task force to extend the travel restrictions from August 16 to August 31, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
As cases surge, more hospitals in the capital region have reported intensive care units, isolation beds and wards were nearing full capacity, and some have had to refuse new patients because of a lack of beds and ventilators.
The Philippine Embassy in Muscat recently arranged the second repatriation flight on August 10 for Filipino nationals in Oman affected by the travel in the Philippines.
The priority was given to those with medical conditions, and those who may need immediate medical care in the Philippines, pregnant women in their third trimester of pregnancy with a compelling reason to return to the Philippines, those who have been approved for the Ministry of Labour programme for the waiver of fines and penalties for the expatriate workers, provided that the departure from Oman is permanent, those who have been terminated from their employment, and those who have finished their employment.
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