INIHAYAG ni Presidential Spokesperson at Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo na inaprubahan ng Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) ang travel ban sa North Gyeongsang, South Korea sa harap naman ng patuloy na pagtaas ng local community transmission ng novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) sa nasabing lalawigan ng naturang bansa.
“With respect to other parts of South Korea, the IATF shall conduct a risk assessment of the situation in the aforesaid country within 48 hours to analyze whether it is necessary to expand the travel ban thereto. In the meantime, strict protocols with respect to travelers entering the country from these areas in South Korea will continue to be observed,” sabi ni Panelo.
Ito’y sa harap naman ng mga manawagan magdeklara ng travel ban sa buong South Korea dahil sa mabilis na pagtaas ng mga kaso ng COVID-19 kung saan umabot na sa mahigit 1,000 ang mga kaso ng local transmission.
“The IATF has authorized Filipinos to travel to South Korea, provided that they are permanent residents thereof, leaving for study, or are overseas Filipino workers therein. They are to execute and sign a declaration, signifying their knowledge and understanding of the risks involved, prior to their travel,” dagdag ni Panelo.
Tiniyak ni Panelo na nananatiling prayoridad ng gobyerno ang kaligtasan ng mga Pinoy hindi lamang sa loob ng bansa kundi pati sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo.
“The safety and security of Filipinos here and the outside the Philippines remain our primary concern. Our countrymen’s welfare is foremost in our minds as concerned officials discuss updates and recommendations on the management of the coronavirus,” giit pa ni Panelo.
Nangangahulugan ang local community transmission ng pagkahawa ng mga mamamayan na walang kasaysayan ng pagbiyahe sa ibang bansa na may kaso ng COVID-19, partikular sa bansang China.