President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) recommendation to extend the travel ban currently imposed to ten countries until August 15, 2021, to prevent the further spread of the highly infectious Delta coronavirus variant.

These countries include India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

During its 130th meeting, the IATF-MEID also supported the draft Joint Administrative Order on the Revised Standard Guidelines on the Strict Observance of Health Protocol in the Conduct of Licensure Examination during Public Health Emergency.

The Department of Health (DOH), the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) drafted this Joint Administrative Order that shall govern all PRC licensure examinations for the duration of the public health emergency.

As of July 29, an additional 97 Delta variant cases were reported in the country, bringing the total cases count of the more contagious COVID-19 to 216. Out of the 97 new cases, 94 were tagged as recovered, while three others were fatalities.

The Delta variant, which was first detected in India, is driving new outbreaks across the Asia-Pacific region, including Southeast Asia.

(Source: PCOO)

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