MANILA, Philippines — As he escalated alert over the novel coronavirus outbreak in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte expanded the travel ban that previously covered only mainland China and South Korea's North Gyeongsang province.

The renewed ban will prevent those coming from countries with localized transmission of the virus except Filipino citizens and their dependents as well as those with permanent residence visas and Philippine diplomatic visas.

The government, however, has yet to release a full list of countries covered by the ban as Metro Manila, where the Ninoy Aquino International Airport is located, has been placed on lockdown. This restricts outgoing and incoming air, land and sea travel in the capital region by Sunday, March 15.

Duterte, however, allowed Filipino workers to return to mainland China provided that they keep away from Hubei province, the epicenter of the disease.

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