Philippines halts flights from South Africa, other countries over COVID-19 variant worriesA passenger sits alone at the NAIA Terminal 1 on May 3, 2020 after a suspension of international flights. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines suspended inbound international flights from South Africa and six other countries until December 15 over concerns about a new COVID-19 variant. The government is now locating travelers from these countries who arrived in the Philippines in the recent seven days prior to the temporary suspension of inbound travel. The IATF also restricted travel from Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini and Mozambique, which are adjacent to South Africa and Botswana. The Philippines joined a growing list of countries that have implemented travel curbs to keep out the variant first discovered in South Africa, which is feared to be more resistant to vaccines.

Source: Philippine Star November 27, 2021 07:54 UTC