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Philippines to bar travel from Malaysia, Thailand to curb Delta's spread

Philippines to bar travel from Malaysia, Thailand to curb Delta's spread

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ThePhilippineswill bantravellers comingfromMalaysiaandThailand, as well as tighten restrictions in the Manila area, in a bid to prevent thespreadof the contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus, the presidential spokesperson said on Friday.

Thetravelrestriction will take effectfromSunday and run to the end of July, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a national address.

"This action is undertaken to prevent the furtherspreadand community transmission of COVID-19 variants in thePhilippines," Roque said.

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ThePhilippineshas previously bannedtravellersfromeight countries including Indonesia and India.

To try and prevent further domestic transmission of the Delta variant, President Rodrigo Duterte has placed the capital region, an urban sprawl of 16 cities that is home to more than 13 million people, and four provinces under stricter coronaviruscurbs until the end of July.

Indoor sports and conference venues, indoor tourist attractions and gyms are not allowed to do business, while the operating capacity of indoor and al fresco dining has been cut.

In addition, children between the ages of five and 17 will not be allowed to leave their homes.

ThePhilippineshas recorded 47 cases of the Delta variant, eight of which are active, and three deaths.

With more than 1.53 million infections and nearly 27,000 deaths, thePhilippineshas the second-highest number of coronavirus cases and casualties in Southeast Asia, next to Indonesia.