Philippines temporarily bars incoming flights to decongest quarantine facilities

FILE PHOTO: A passenger wearing a protective mask carries her luggage outside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, February 18, 2020. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines barred incoming passenger flights from Sunday morning for one week to contain the spread of the coronavirus and help reduce pressure on quarantine facilities housing thousands of Filipino repatriates, officials said on Sunday.

"This decision is meant to decongest our quarantine facilities to protect our people by preventing the further spread of COVID-19 and also ensure that our overseas Filipino workers are well taken care of when they arrive from abroad", the task force said in a statement.