Advertisement

Philippines Lets Foreigners In, Eases Travel Rules for Citizens

Police officers are seen wearing face masks and face shields to protect against COVID-19 at Godofredo P. Ramos Airport on September 30, 2020 in Malay, Aklan province, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Police officers are seen wearing face masks and face shields to protect against COVID-19 at Godofredo P. Ramos Airport on September 30, 2020 in Malay, Aklan province, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

By Cecilia Yap

The Philippines will welcome back foreign nationals starting Nov. 1 and allow Filipino travelers to leave without COVID-19 antigen tests as the Southeast Asian nation continues to reopen.

Religious gatherings in areas under a looser form of quarantine will be allowed up to 30% of seating capacity from 10% previously, Harry Roque, spokesman of President Rodrigo Duterte, said in a statement on Friday.

Early this week, the government shortened curfew hours in the capital region and eased stay-at-home order in response to a request from the Cabinet to allow more businesses to thrive.

The Philippines, which has the second most number of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia, on Thursday reported 1,664 new cases, bringing to total to nearly 364,000.

© 2020 Bloomberg L.P.