PCOO on the latest directive of the Pres. regarding the containment and the neutralization of the spread of 2019-nCoV

We would again like to inform the public that the recommended guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases has been approved by the President.

With the safety of the country and all the people being of the first importance, and given that the Department of Health (DOH) has advised that the virus has affected all regions in China, the government is implementing a travel ban and quarantine procedures.

Included on the guidelines is the temporary ban on the entry of any person, regardless of nationality, except Filipino citizens and Permanent Resident Visa holders coming from China and its special administrative regions.

Any person, regardless of nationality, except Filipino citizens and Permanent Resident Visa holders, who within fourteen days prior have been to China and its special administrative region, are also banned from entry.

A temporary ban on Filipinos from travelling to China and its Special Administrative Region is also in place along with a mandatory fourteen-day quarantine for Filipino citizens and Permanent Resident Visa holders coming from any place in China and its special administrative regions. The guidelines also include the establishment of repatriation and quarantine facility.

All government agencies, offices, state universities and colleges, GOCCs, GFIs, and LGUs have also been directed to adopt and implement these guidelines until the threat of the disease is over. Our law enforcement agencies will also be on hand should any of the agencies need additional support to implement the directive.

We would again like to ensure the public that the government is doing everything to ensure their safety and contain the spread of the virus, as the whole country deals with the threat posed by 2019-nCoV.

We again call for the public to cooperate with the government, follow the procedures put into place, and to remain calm and rational.

More importantly, we ask them to do their part in preventing the spread of the virus by following the precautionary measures prescribed by the DOH such as washing their hands regularly and wearing surgical masks in crowded areas.

—PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar