Philippines Lets Foreigners In, Eases Travel Rules for Citizens
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.
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