Gov’t eases restrictions for arriving, vaccinated travelers
MANILA, Philippines — The government has eased restrictions for inbound arrivals and paved the way for a shorter facility-based quarantine for fully vaccinated travelers coming from other countries, Malacañang announced on Friday.
The Philippines only allows the entry of travelers from “green” and “yellow” countries, or those at low and moderate risk for COVID-19.
Under the latest rules of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) that took effect on Oct. 8, fully vaccinated inbound travelers from these countries only need to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of the negative result of their reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, which will be taken on the fifth day.
After leaving the facility, they would be required to undergo home quarantine until the 10th day from their arrival in the country.
Travelers who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or whose vaccination status cannot be independently verified or confirmed as valid or authentic by authorities will have to undergo a slightly longer facility-based quarantine.
They will have to stay in the facility until the release of the negative result of their RT-PCR test, which will be taken on the seventh day.
They will also be required to undergo home quarantine until their 14th day.
Under the previous rules, fully vaccinated travelers from green countries had to undergo a facility-based quarantine for seven days, and RT-PCR testing on the fifth day, while travelers from yellow countries, regardless of vaccination status, had to undergo a facility-based quarantine for 10 days, with an RT-PCR test on the seventh day.
The IATF has allowed more Metro Manila residents to travel point-to-point to areas under more relaxed quarantine restrictions.
The IATF said those below 18 years old and fully vaccinated individuals over 65, fully vaccinated individuals with comorbidities or other health risks and fully vaccinated pregnant women may travel to areas on general community quarantine and modified general community quarantine.
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