China requires travelers from PH to test negative

MANILA, Philippines — China-bound seafarers from the Philippines are now required to take a nucleic acid test for the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and present a negative result before they can be allowed entry into the country.

In advisory No. 118, POEA chief Bernard Olalia said “all Chinese and foreign seafarers coming from the Philippines to China are requested to provide the negative COVID-19 nucleic acid testing results within three days before boarding.”

According to Olalia, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Philippines has provided information that since July 2020, there were 23 Filipino seafarers who have tested positive of COVID-19 when they arrived in China.

—Tina G. Santos