Entry Restrictions for African Countries Including South Africa, Philippines, and Thailand

[Photo by Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The Philippines has blocked entry from seven African countries, including South Africa, to prevent the influx of the new coronavirus variant 'Omicron.'

According to AFP on the 27th, Presidential Spokesperson Carlo Nograles announced yesterday that entry from seven countries with confirmed or highly likely future cases of Omicron has been immediately suspended. The targeted countries are South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.

The entry restrictions will be in effect until the 15th of next month. Entry is also prohibited for those who have stayed in these countries within the past two weeks.

The Philippine government decided last week to impose a 14-day quarantine on arrivals from these countries.

Currently, about one-third of the Philippines' total population of 110 million have completed their vaccinations.

The Thai government has also decided to restrict entry from eight African countries?South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi?starting next month.

People from these countries will no longer be able to proceed with entry procedures into Thailand.

Those arriving from other African countries must undergo a 14-day quarantine at a hotel. However, those who have already received entry approval from these eight countries must also complete an additional 14-day quarantine.

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