Philippines keeps curbs, eases travel rules amid Covid-19 spike

[MANILA] The Philippines will keep movement restrictions in its capital from Jan 16 to Jan 31, while allowing quarantine-free entry for some foreign arrivals even as daily Covid-19 infections and the percentage of positive tests hit record highs.

Metro Manila, which accounts for a third of economic output, will remain under Alert Level 3, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in a briefing on Friday (Jan 14).

Outdoor restaurants can operate at half capacity, while cinemas, gyms and other indoor businesses are limited to 30 per cent capacity.

Fully vaccinated travelers from low-risk areas including China, India and Japan no longer need to quarantine, as long as they have a negative RT-PCR test 48 hours before departure. Arrivals from high-risk areas are also now allowed subject to quarantine and testing protocols.

The post-holiday spike in infections has led to tighter limits on businesses in the capital, disrupted airlines and banks, and shortened stock trading. Hospital beds in the capital are again filling up, with the unvaccinated accounting for most severe and critical cases, prompting the government to restrict movement.

BLOOMBERG