The 2019 n-CoV threat has affected the livelihood of residents and tourism business in Boracay, Kalibo, Aklan, Bam Alegre on GMA News’ Unang Balita reported on Monday.
Last week, Chinese carriers voluntarily suspended their direct flights to Aklan, where famed Boracay island is located, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines spokesman Eric Apolonio said.
Philippine Airlines said Thursday it suspended flights between Kalibo and China’s Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Shanghai.
Kalibo International Airport hosts flights to 21 destinations, 18 of which are Chinese cities.
As a result, Chinese tourists who mostly comprise the majority of visitors (according to Municipal Tourism Office) in Boracay are nowhere to be found on the renowned island.
There were no longer any flights at the Kalibo International Airport in Kalibo going to and arriving from China. Kalibo is the main gateway to the renowned island.
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n-CoV threat affects tourism, livelihood in Boracay
Most of the residents in Boracay depend on tourism for their source of income. For example, tricycle drivers said their income dropped by almost half.
The report also there were no thermal scanners at Caticlan seaport even if nCoV is considered a public health emergency.
Some tourists wear face masks, and some don’t upon their arrival and stay on the island.
DOH reported two persons under investigation for possible nCoV infection are still confined in a hospital in Kalibo as of this writing.
The patients were in stable condition but have yet to be cleared, pending the release of the results of the confirmatory tests or the end of their 14-day quarantine period.
The province’s Department of Tourism urged accommodation establishments to observe precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD).
The DOT said guests with symptoms must be evaluated using the following questions:
- Have you recently (14 days) traveled to China or a country or place on the WHO list with local transmission or outbreak of 2019-nCoV?
- Have you had recent contact with a person with a confirmed or suspected case of 2019-nCov?; and
- Do you have such symptoms as a fever higher than 38 degrees Celsius and flu-like symptoms such as cough, difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath?