Patriotism and self-protection in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic demand the temporary ban on overseas deployment of Filipino healthcare professionals and workers like physicians, nurses, and laboratory technicians.

The United States reportedly plans to relax the entry of medical professionals and workers to lure them to work in its fight against the global contagion.

The highest number of novel coronavirus cases has been recorded in the United States with 100,973 infections over Italy’s 86,498 and China’s 81,340.

With the Philippines’ unabated escalation of the number of persons under investigation (PUIs), persons under monitoring (PUMs), and persons confirmed positive for the novel corona virus, we need all available medical professionals and healthcare workers to assist in the campaign against the viral menace.

The ban must be coupled with a hefty increase in the salaries and allowances, including hazard pay, of medical frontline personnel in both public and private health facilities.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN