Individuals who got COVID shots abroad still need to undergo testing, quarantine in PH

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines — Individuals who have already received coronavirus vaccines abroad are still required to undergo testing and quarantine upon entering Philippine territory.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who is also the official mouthpiece of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), announced this in a statement Wednesday.

“In addition, any individual arriving in the Philippines who may have received vaccination for COVID-19 in other countries/jurisdictions shall still be required to observe the mandatory testing and quarantine protocols,” Roque said.

The Palace official also announced that local/accredited foreign diplomats and international organizations from countries covered by the travel ban due to the new COVID-19 variant will be exempted from the entry ban as long as they will undergo RT-PCR test upon arrival and observe strict 14-day quarantine.

“Also exempted are foreign dignitaries who shall observe existing testing and quarantine protocols upon arrival and those for medical and emergency cases, including their medical escorts,” Roque said.

Meanwhile, Filipinos from countries where travel restrictions are in place, or who have been to the said areas within the last 14 days may enter the country after strictly observing an absolute 14-day facility-based quarantine.

The Philippines has imposed a travel ban on over 20 countries, including the United Kingdom where the new COVID-19 variant believed to be more infectious was first reported.

READ: PH expands travel restriction to US amid threat of new COVID-19 variant 

READ: Philippines expands travel ban to 19 more countries amid new COVID-19 variant threat 

Local experts are currently conducting a study to detect whether the new variant has reached the Philippines.

However, Hong Kong earlier announced that a passenger from Manila had been tested positive for the new coronavirus variant.

JPV