The country recorded a record-breaking 54,517 new infections and 991 deaths on Wednesday, overtaking India as the worst-affected country in Asia.
s Indonesia buckles under a deadly second wave of COVID-19 infections, several countries have announced new bans and restrictions on travelers from Indonesia to protect themselves from the virus.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Taiwan and Hong Kong are among the countries and territories that have either placed Indonesia on their travel ban list or considered doing so in the wake of a severe spike in COVID-19 cases in the archipelago. Twenty-six Schengen countries, meanwhile, still ban nonessential incoming travel from outside European Union countries, which includes Indonesia.
The Philippines announced on Wednesday that it would bar entry to all travelers coming from Indonesia or those with a recent travel history to the country. This came after the Philippine pandemic task force recommended the inclusion of Indonesia in its travel ban, which already includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the UAE and Oman.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte spokesman said the measure, which will be in effect from Friday to July 31, was taken to prevent the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant first found in India, Reuters reported.
Read also: Darkest days ahead: Deaths surge in Indonesia as health facilities collapse
Indonesia is currently battling a severe wave of COVID-19 that authorities say is driven by the Delta variant. The country recorded a record-breaking 54,517 new infections and 991 deaths on Wednesday, overtaking India as the worst-affected country in Asia.
On Java, hospitals are being stretched to their limit, with oxygen supplies running low and four or five designated COVID-19 burial grounds in Jakarta close to full.
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