Gov’t now requires unvaxxed onsite workers in Alert Level 2 areas to get tested

FILE PHOTO A man getting swabbed for COVID-19. Image from OVP / Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — Onsite employees in the public and private sector in areas under Alert Level 2 and higher who remain unvaccinated against COVID-19 will have to undergo RT-PCR tests once every two weeks or antigen tests weekly, Malacañang announced Tuesday.

This came as a result of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases’ (IATF) decision to update the testing requirements for unvaccinated employees.

Acting presidential spokesperson and Palace Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said all establishments in areas where there is sufficient COVID-19 vaccine supply must require their employees, who are tasked to do on-site work, to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Those who are unvaccinated, however, must undergo RT-PCR tests once every two weeks or antigen tests weekly.

Public sector employees, including local government units, may cover the costs of the RT-PCR or antigen tests, but will be subject to availability of funds, and civil service, accounting and auditing rules and regulations, Andanar said.

Employees with recent COVID-19 infection within 90 days and those with alternative working arrangements that do not require on-site work are exempted from this new testing requirements.

“Testing requirements mentioned above shall be waived for areas under Alert Level 1 classification, subject to the implementation of clinical-based management, including symptomatic testing,” Andanar said in a statement.

“However, aforesaid testing requirements shall be reinstated in areas under Alert Level 2 classification or higher,” he added.

Metro Manila, 85 provinces, highly urbanized cities and independent component cities and 166 of 744 other component cities and municipalities are placed under Alert Level 1 from July 1 until July 15.

EDV