PH OKs entry of COVID recovered Filipinos who test positive pre-departure

(FILE) Filipinos arriving from abroad

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos arriving from abroad who have recently recovered from COVID-19 but still test positive in their required pre-departure RT-PCR tests may be allowed to enter the Philippines subject to certain requirements, Malacañang announced on Friday.

Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said that under Inter-Agency Task Force Resolution No. 158, the said arriving Filipinos may be allowed entry to the country if they present the following in lieu of a negative pre-departure RT-PCR test:

• positive RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to the date or time of departure from country or port of origin
• medical certificate issued by a licensed physician stating that the traveler has completed the mandatory isolation period, is no longer infectious, and has been allowed free movement or travel
• positive RT-PCR test taken not earlier than 10 days but not later than 30 days prior to date or time of departure from country or port of origin

“Upon arrival, they shall be required to observe the facility-based quarantine applicable to them based on the classification of the country/territory/jurisdiction of origin and the passenger’s vaccination status,” Nograles said in a press briefing.

“However, if fully vaccinated and coming from Green List countries/territories/jurisdictions, they shall be required to undergo facility-based quarantine periods prescribed for Yellow List countries/territories/jurisdictions for fully vaccinated arriving passengers,” he added.

/MUF