Photo: Mark Demayo / ABS-CBN News " width="100%" />
The Department of Health (DOH) today said that it is tracking down around 26 South Koreans who arrived in Cebu from Daegu, South Korea on Tuesday, a day after the government imposed travel restrictions on North Gyeongsang province, where most coronavirus infections in the country have been found.
DOH Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told ABS-CBN News that they are coordinating with Cebu’s regional office.
“Everyone who arrived is being traced,” she said.
Yesterday, the Philippines banned all travelers coming from North Gyeongsang province to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The restriction was imposed after over 1,200 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the province, at least 12 of whom have died. The outbreak in the province has been traced to a religious sect in Daegu City, ABS-CBN News reports.
Read: PH imposes travel restriction on South Korean province over COVID-19 fears
However, Vergeire said the South Korean nationals being traced by the health department will not be asked to return to their country but will just be observed in the Philippines.
While Manila has cautioned Filipinos against “non-essential travel” to the East Asian country, the restriction still allows South Korean travelers from outside North Gyeongsang province to enter the Philippines.
The Health Department is still conducting a risk assessment on whether or not to extend the travel ban to other parts of South Korea.
