[ad_1]
Some of them worry about the lack of clarity in the Covid-19 quarantine procedure
Nearly four months later, Philippines finally lifts ban on UAE travelers, This was announced on Saturday.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said that from September 6, the Philippine government will relax the current restrictions on passengers departing from the UAE and India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. limits.
“However, international travelers from the aforementioned countries should comply with appropriate entry, testing and quarantine agreements, depending on the’list’ approved by that country,” said Rock.
The Philippines banned travelers from the UAE on May 15, causing thousands of foreigners and tourists to be stranded.Since then, the Philippine government has been increasing Repatriation flight takes home Filipinos in distress, People whose visas have expired, medical patients and other foreigners facing emergencies.
Although restrictions have been relaxed, airlines are still waiting for the clarity of travel procedures.
A Philippine Airlines spokesperson told Khaleej Times: “We are still waiting for guidelines and travel standard operating procedures for UAE passengers. Although the restrictions have been lifted, it is not clear whether the UAE falls into the red, yellow or green travel safety category. “
Nonetheless, the airline official added that the repatriation flight continued smoothly. “The quarantine requirements for incoming passengers will play a role in the future travel needs of the industry. We are still waiting and hope (today) we should be clearer.”
For some Filipino expats who have not seen their families for more than a year due to the pandemic, the news gave them a sigh of relief.
“I really want to spend Christmas with my family. All the news about the extension of the travel ban over the past few months has been frustrating-now we can finally celebrate,” Gwen Dubai resident and managing partner of Privato Holiday Home Viernes said.
“When we realized that we could be together this Christmas, my family and I really jumped for joy through the video call,” said the expat, who would go home to visit her elderly parents almost every quarter.
The foreigner Ira Shelleen Somoza is also very excited because the lifting of the travel ban means she can be with her daughter on her fifth birthday.
“I never missed my daughter’s birthday until last year when Covid-19 struck. That day in 2020 was a frustrating day for me. I have missed many things-from her first day of school to many Christmas,” Somoza said.
“This year, because of the ban, I thought I could no longer go to her birthday. Thank God, it was lifted. I can’t wait to surprise my daughter Yassmien,” she said.
Gillian Cortez, the sales executive, has not seen her parents in the past three years. “I came to the UAE three years ago, and since then things have become so uncertain that I cannot visit my hometown. This news gave us a sigh of relief, but clearer information will allow us to plan our s vacation.”
If the UAE falls into the “yellow” category, travelers must be quarantined for 14 days regardless of whether they are vaccinated. They will have to stay in a government-approved hotel for the first 10 days, and the rest will continue at home. They must also undergo a PCR test on the seventh day.
For the expatriate Carl Duffrey Bartolome (Carl Duffrey Bartolome), if he were to isolate for two weeks, he would not fly.
“Due to the quarantine, we will waste our holidays. They should consider that most of our people in the UAE have been vaccinated,” said Bartolome, who not only completed the Sinopharm vaccination, but also completed the Pfizer-BioNTech boost injection.
He added: “Of course, I want to spend time with my family, but given the inefficiency of the domestic response to Covid and the changing agreements, I have to cancel all plans.”
The total number of Covid cases in the Philippines reached 2 million on September 1, and as of Friday, more than 157,000 people had been infected with the virus.
ayaz@khaleejtimes.com
kirstin@khaleejtimes.com
[ad_2]
Source link