Duterte won’t ban yet flights between Philippines, some Chinese cities

January 29, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday that he is not inclined yet to ban flights between the Philippines and some cities in China amid the increasing number of novel coronavirus cases.

In an interview in Quezon City, Duterte said as of now, there is no known human to human transmission of the virus yet from China here in the country.

"Not yet at this time. As a matter of fact, there is no known transmission from human to human from China. Could be there is the slightest possibility that a contamination could occur in the Philippines, then we'll have to take measures," he said.

As to the Filipinos in Hubei which capital city is Wuhan, the epicenter of the new coronavirus, the President said he would allow them to be repatriated, but precautionary measures have to be taken.

"Well, we are always conscious of our citizens, their health. And if they are going home, we are ready to ferry them back to the Philippines but all precautions must be in placed," he said.

"Maybe the spraying of the entire plane from the landing gear, up to the rooftop or whatever. I leave it to the proper authorities to do that," Duterte added.

The President also ordered the frontline agencies to ensure that the ports of entry are properly guarded and secured.

"Well there's a protocol for that for the Health people actually and also the Immigration and Health. And they have this instrument where they can sort out whether you are suffering from a fever or something like that. We are preparing in all ports of entry," he said. 

Death toll from coronavirus in China has already reached to over a hundred people. Celerina Monte/DMS