COVID-19 swab test not required for returning stranded individuals – DILG

MANILA, Philippines — Locally stranded individuals (LSI) need not to present the results of their coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) swab test before returning to provinces, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año clarified Monday.

Año issued the clarification after stranded passengers at the North Port Passenger Terminal in Tondo, Manila were reportedly required to present swab test results.

 Locally stranded individuals wait to board a passenger ship at the NorthPort terminal in Manila. INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

“Hindi required ‘yung PCR [polymerase chain reaction] testing sa kanila. Hindi pa naman na-approve ‘yung bagong pino-propose nating protocol na maga-undergo ng PCR testing ang mga LSI pero ito ay doon na sa kanilang point of destination,” Año said in an interview on Teleradyo.

(PCR testing is not yet required for them. The proposal for our LSI to undergo PCR testing is not yet approved. This is to be done at the point of their destination.)

“So ngayon, yung current protocols pa rin natin na medical clearance certificate, travel authority and then pagdating sa LGU, 14 days mandatory quarantine,” he added.

(Right now, the current protocols remain  – they should have a  medical clearance certificate, travel authority and upon arriving to the LGU, a 14-day mandatory quarantine.)

Last week, Malacañang said stranded individuals and overseas Filipino workers will soon be required to undergo COVID-19 swab tests before they could return to their provinces so that local government units will no longer have to worry that the returning residents will become carriers of the virus.

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