Virus Outbreak: MOFA working to fix Philippine ban

TRAVEL SNARL:The Philippine undersecretary for health said he included Taiwan in the ban because Taiwan is considered a part of China by the WHO

Taipei Times
Date: Feb 12, 2020
By: Lin Chia-nan  /  Staff reporter

The Philippines’ decision to include Taiwan in its travel ban on Chinese visitors due to the 2019

novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was made unilaterally by the Philippine Department of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday, adding that Taipei is communicating with the Manila to correct the mistake.

Philippine Undersecretary of Health Eric Domingo on Monday said that Taiwan is included in its temporary travel ban on visitors from China, Hong Kong and Macau, given that Taiwan is considered part of China by the WHO.

When the ban was first announced last week, it did not mention Taiwan.   

Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) Chairman and Resident Representative Angelito Banayo said in a message sent to MOFA later on Monday that “the statement made by Health Undersecretary Dr Eric Domingo is not an official position.”    [FULL  STORY]