Workers on the tourism-dependent Boracay island in the Philippines expressed concern on Monday over tightened border controls, following the spread of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19.
The Philippines on Sunday further restricted border controls to keep out the new variant, backpedalling on a plan to allow the entry of some vaccinated foreign tourists starting December 1.
The country also added seven European countries to a travel ban that initially covered seven African nations.
The European nations on the so-called “red list” until December 15 are Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and Italy.
“We were already elated when they announced that borders would open for international tourists, we earn a living because of them. Now they announced that we would be in lockdown again because of the new variant. We are very scared, we don’t know how we would survive if we go on lockdown again,” said clothing shop owner Rose Añalucas.
