If you’re dreaming of going on vacation—or escaping the country—it’s now a possibility.

Today, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced that the government is lifting the ban on international non-essential travel, starting Oct. 21.

The Philippines has lifted its ban on non-essential outbound travel effective October 21, Malacañang said. | @KAguilarINQ https://t.co/PQsmKp1Bl5

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 16, 2020

In a statement, the spokesperson said “They may be allowed to leave the country subject to the submission of confirmed roundtrip tickets and adequate travel and health insurance for those traveling in tourist visas, execution of an immigration declaration acknowledging the risks involved in traveling and a negative antigen (test) result taken within 24 hours before departure, subject to the Department of Health (DOH) guidelines.”

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has also announced that they’ll be allowing non-essential travel between general community quarantine (GCQ) areas and modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) areas. This also applies to people who aren’t on the list of authorized persons outside of residence.

JUST IN: IATF allows travel between GCQ and MGCQ areas even for those who are not among the list of authorized persons outside of residence, says presl spox Roque. | @LeilasINQ pic.twitter.com/4FNOb1xndp

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 16, 2020

The IATF has also eased the age restrictions of people allowed to travel. Citizens aged 15 to 65 may now leave their homes without risk of violating quarantine.

This is all amazing news, if we just forget about the fact that we’re still in the middle of a pandemic.

According to the Department of Health (DOH) our COVID-19 numbers are currently at 46,227 active cases, with 1,253 new cases added just yesterday and 78 new deaths—which brings our total mortality number to 6,449 people. That’s 6,449 lives cut short because of the pandemic.

As much as we’re craving for a vacation (or a new start in a COVID-free country), we are still fighting this pandemic. The new bathing suits and winter coats will just have to wait until next year—hopefully.

Header photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

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