MANILA, Philippines (Updated 11:42 a.m.) — The Philippine government extended the ban on foreign travelers coming from 32 countries over the new and more infectious coronavirus variant, Malacañang announced Friday. The ban, which includes the United Kingdom, China, including Hong Kong, and the United States, will be in effect until January 31. Here is a full list of countries where the travel ban is imposed:United KingdomDenmarkIrelandJapanAustraliaIsraelNetherlandsChina, including Hong KongSwitzerlandFranceGermanyIcelandItalyLebanonSingaporeSwedenSouth KoreaSouth AfricaCanadaSpainUnited StatesPortugalIndiaFinlangNorwayJordanBrazilAustriaPakistanJamaicaLuxembourgOmanThe announcement comes two days after local health authorities reported the country's first case of the new coronavirus variant, B.1.17. Imposing travel restrictions had been a significant issue in the country over the course of the pandemic, which has seen over 494,000 infections and over 9,700 deaths. It was also only a day later that Duterte ordered a travel ban to the Hubei province which includes Wuhan, when the virus already reached the country's shores.

Source: Philippine Star January 15, 2021 03:21 UTC