Ilocos Norte eases COVID-19 testing requirements for fully vaccinated

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — Fully vaccinated returning residents would no longer be asked to present a negative COVID-19 test results before they are allowed to enter the provincial borders, Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc said on Tuesday, Nov. 16.

In a statement, the governor said that the new rule would cover only those who are not coming from abroad or areas under Risk Level 4 or 5.

Returning residents would only be asked to present their vaccination card and a health screening at the provincial borders, according to Manotoc.

“The reason we waited until now is because our vaccination rate today is only 53 percent of the targeted 70-percent of the population,” he said.