The Philippines on Friday extended travel curbs for those entering from India and nine other countries till August 31 to curb the spread of the Delta COVID-19 variant amid a surge in the number of covid cases in the country. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said in a statement.

The Delta variant has spread in the Philippines, where 627 cases have been reported, including 11 deaths, according to the media reports. Apart from India where the Delta variant was first detected, the Philippines also banned travelers from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. However, Philippines permits returning overseas Filipino workers under its repatriation program, but they will be isolated for 14 days upon the arrival.

The Philippines is grappling with soaring Covid-19 infections fueled by the highly transmissible Delta variant, prompting the government to re-impose a hard lockdown in Metro Manila and other regions. The Philippines now has more than 1.7 million confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 29,539 deaths.

The Philippines first imposed the travel ban on India initially on April 29 which was extended again till July 14, the government extended the travel ban, which covers India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, UAE, and Oman till July 31.

Persuading the Taliban has become more difficult: Pak Prime Minister Imran Khan

Air passengers Attention! Now SpiceJet passengers can book cabs during flight

'Booster dose' of corona vaccine approved in US, these people to be vaccinated