Second Covid-19 swab test now mandatory for quarantined inbound passengers

MANILA, Philippines — Passengers from countries with travel restrictions due to the new variant of Covid-19 are now required to undergo a second RT-PCR test on their fifth day of quarantine.

This is in accordance with the proposal of the Department of Health (DOH) to the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) after contacts of the 29-year-old Filipino who tested positive for the Covid-19 variant initially tested negative for the viral illness but later on yielded positive test results after re-swabbing.

“They [inbound passengers] shall be quarantined until the result of that test is released,” Palace and IATF spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement Friday.

The government has imposed a travel ban on foreigners from over 20 countries due to the Covid-19 variant which is believed to be up to 70% more infectious.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque/ Screenshot from PCOO Facebook video

Only Filipinos will be allowed entry subject to the quarantine and testing protocols.

Roque, however, clarified that foreign nationals who serve as personnel of accredited international organizations, along with spouses and minor children of Filipino citizens traveling with them are now exempted from the travel ban but they also have to undergo the quarantine and testing protocol.

Meanwhile, those who arrive for medical and emergency cases, including their medical escorts, are now subject to applicable testing and quarantine protocols as prescribed by the DOH, the Palace official said.

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