MANILA, Philippines — Foreign nationals and returning overseas Filipinos arriving in the Philippines may now present negative laboratory-based COVID-19 antigen test results for entry in the country, Malacañang said Friday.
The test must be taken within 24 hours prior to their arrival, according to the latest guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), acting deputy spokesman Kristian Ablan said.
The government previously only required negative RT-PCR test results taken within 48 hours prior to their arrival.
“Now it is either of the two, RT-PCR or antigen,” Ablan said in a Palace briefing.
Fully vaccinated foreign nationals and returning Filipinos no longer need to undergo facility-based quarantine but should monitor for symptoms for 7 days after their arrival.
READ: Foreigners from visa-required countries may enter PH starting Feb. 10
Those who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated must undergo facility-based quarantine until their negative test result is released on the 5th day of their arrival.
READ: All returning Filipinos must register with One Health Pass before arrival in PH