'COVID-19 Variant Alert' Southeast Asia Entry Ban Expanded

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo Yoo-jin] As the spread of the new coronavirus variant originating from the UK triggers an emergency, Southeast Asian countries have expanded the list of countries banned from entry.

According to local media on the 2nd, the Philippine government will ban entry of foreigners from the United States from the 3rd to the 15th. The Philippines had previously temporarily banned entry of foreigners from the UK starting from the 23rd of last month, and from the 30th until the 15th of this month, it decided to ban entry from 19 countries, including South Korea, where COVID-19 variant infections have occurred.

Citizens residing in those countries are allowed to enter, but even if they test negative for COVID-19 after entry, they must quarantine for 14 days.

Singapore will also block entry or transit of long-term visa holders and short-term visitors who have visited South Africa starting from the 4th, and citizens and permanent residents arriving from South Africa must quarantine for 14 days immediately after entry.

Earlier, on December 23rd last year, Singapore temporarily banned entry from the UK starting the next day after a COVID-19 variant infection originating from the UK was confirmed. Malaysia extended movement restrictions imposed in the capital Kuala Lumpur and Sabah state until the 14th, and Indonesia banned foreign entry for two weeks starting from the 1st.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.