Hong Kong bans Cebu Pacific passenger flights until Sept. 16

Photo from Cebu Pacific

MANILA, Philippines – Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health said Cebu Pacific was banned from carrying passengers from Manila to Hong Kong until Sept. 16 this year.

On its website, Hong Kong health authorities said the travel prohibition, which started last Sept. 3, was ordered after four Cebu Pacific passengers (5J272) on Sept. 1 were found to be positive for COVID-19 upon arrival testing.

Passengers bound for Hong Kong are required to present a negative RT-PCR test result taken within 72 hours before the scheduled time of departure and show confirmed hotel reservations.

While RT-PCR tests provided high accuracy in detecting COVID-19, the World Health Organization said these could miss virus infections that were incubating or when a person was infected after taking the test.

Philippine Airlines was also prohibited from flying passengers from Manila from Aug. 29 until Sept. 11. This was after three passengers tested positive for the virus upon arriving in Hong Kong.

For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.

The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link.