- Sputnik International
Asia
Find top stories and features from Asia and the Pacific region. Keep updated on major political stories and analyses from Asia and the Pacific. All you want to know about China, Japan, North and South Korea, India and Pakistan, Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Philippines Temporarily Suspends Arrival Tourist Visas For Chinese Citizens

© REUTERS / ELOISA LOPEZAirport personnel monitor a thermal scanner as passengers arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay
Airport personnel monitor a thermal scanner as passengers arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay - Sputnik International
Subscribe
The measure is reportedly aimed to stop the spread of a new Chinese coronavirus, dubbed 2019-nCoV, as fourteen people are already quarantined in the Philippines for suspected exposure to the deadly infection which has claimed at least 106 lives in China.

The Philippine Immigration Bureau on Tuesday temporarily stopped issuing the "visa upon arrival" (VUA) for Chinese citizens, amid the outbreak of a new virus strain.

"We are now temporarily suspending the issuance of VUA for Chinese nationals to slow down the influx of group tours", Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement, cited by CNN Philippines.

The national immigration watchdog has, however, reportedly clarified that there is no order imposed on stopping Chinese nationals from entering the Philippines.

The contagious virus - that has similar symptoms to an acute viral respiratory illness - reportedly continues to spread across the globe, with over 50 new cases registered in 14 countries as of 27 January.

Medical officials monitor a thermal scanner as passengers arrive at the airport in Changsha, Hunan Province - Sputnik International
World
Canadian Govt Issues 'Avoid All Travel' Alert For China's Hubei Province Due to Virus Outbreak
Chinese authorities earlier on Tuesday estimated that over 4,500 people in mainland China have contracted the new strain of coronavirus.

Several countries, including Canada and the United States, have upgraded their travel advisories, urging tourists to reconsider trips to China and especially to avoid the Hubei province and the Chinese city of Wuhan, where a local fish market is reportedly believed to be the epicentre of the deadly decease.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала