IATF eases protocols for travelers from ‘green,’ ‘yellow’ states

AIRPORT SCENE. Travelers line up for tests at a Philippine airport. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infections Diseases (IATF) has approved the retroactive application of the revised quarantine and testing protocols for Filipinos and foreigners from countries and territories under the “green” and “yellow” lists that took effect on Oct. 8.

At his press briefing on Monday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the IATF approved the application of the revised protocols to international passengers arriving in all ports of entry prior to Oct. 8.

The revised protocols provided a shorter quarantine period for vaccinated passengers. They are only required to undergo facility-based quarantine upon arrival and take the RT-PCR test on the fifth day. If they test negative they may already leave but must undergo home quarantine until the 10th day.

For the unvaccinated, they will undergo facility-based quarantine until the seventh day, after which they will take the test. If they test negative they have to undergo home quarantine up to the 14th day since their arrival.

The revised protocols are applicable to Filipinos and foreigners from 49 countries and territories in the “green list” or low risk countries. INQ