Health Alert - U.S. Embassy Manila (April 24, 2020)

Location:  The Philippines

Event: 

Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) Extended Until May 15, 2020:  

Based on the Inter-Agency Task Force's recommendation, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced the ECQ extension for the following high-risk administrative regions, provinces, or areas until May 15, 2020: 

• The National Capital Region,
• Region III (Central Luzon),
• Region IV-A (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon - CALARBAZON),
• The province of Pangasinan,
• The province of Benguet,
• The island of Mindoro,
• The province of Albay, and
• The island of Catanduanes.

The ECQ is also now effective until May 15 in the following, which are also considered high-risk areas:

• The island of Panay (Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, and Capiz),
• The island of Cebu (Cebu Province and Cebu City), and
• The provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, and Davao City.

Provinces or areas which are considered moderate- and low-risk in the spread of COVID-19 will be placed under a general community quarantine starting on May 1, 2020.

Please continue to monitor the Embassy's COVID-19 Information page, which also includes information on operational hotels, Philippine visas and the Bureau of Immigration, the Philippine Retirement Authority, and car rentals.

Actions to Take:

• Contact the airlines and contacts directly for reservations and updated information.
• Check with your airlines, cruise lines, or travel operators regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
• Monitor local news for updates.
• Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
• For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
• Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
• Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 here for information on conditions in the Philippines.
• Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the U.S.
• Consult resources below as necessary:

·                    Philippine Department of Health (DOH)

·                    Philippine Department of Health (FAQs)

·                    Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI)

·                    Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA)

·                    Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs

·                    Philippine Department Of Interior and Local Government

·                    Philippine Department of Tourism 

·                    COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov

·                    CDC page on COVID-19

·                    Philippines Travel Advisory

·                    Philippines Country Information Page

Assistance:

U.S. Embassy in the Philippines

1201 Roxas Boulevard

+63(2) 5301-2000, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday

After-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is +(63)(2) 5301-2000. 

• State Department–Consular Affairs 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444.
• State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Advisories, Alerts, and the Philippines Country Specific Information.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts.
• Follow us on  Twitter and Facebook.