Expert backs 10-day quarantine for inbound travelers, cites threat of coronavirus variants

Implementing a 10-day quarantine for incoming travelers in Metro Manila and Cebu will be effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19 variants in the Philippines, OCTA Research fellow Fr. Nicanor Austriaco said Thursday.

In a Palace briefing, Austriaco said this policy will prevent variants, especially the Delta variant or the variant that originated in India, from spreading in the country "like ink spreading in water." He warned that the Delta variant is 50% transmissible.

"I would like to support the science in enforcing a 10-day quarantine for international travel in NCR and Cebu," said Austriaco.

"Why? Because science shows that this quarantine is 99.7% effective at preventing variants from entering," he added.

In addition, Austriaco thumbed down some calls to shorten the quarantine period because it would not ensure safety from the more contagious variants.

"I know there is a debate in our country on shortening the quarantine but there is no scientific evidence that a seven-day quarantine would protect us enough from the variant and if it enters Cebu, it will enter the entire country. It will be catastrophic and we will get another surge and it destroys Christmas this year," said Austriaco.

Instead of shortening quarantine days, the health expert asked the government to "seek ways to verify quarantine status" of returning Filipinos.

Austriaco also suggested allowing vaccinated Filipinos to "bypass testing and quarantine."

"It is very expensive. It is difficult but it is a sacrifice for the Philippines because we have to protect ourselves from the Indian variant," the priest-scientist said.

Two senators previously asked the government to impose adjustments for health requirements for incoming travelers. As they cite some balikbayans who took issue with high expenses of accommodation in quarantine centers as well as swab testing. 

Senate President Vicente Sotto III previously said the government may consider adopting the United States' policy for travelers, wherein vaccinated passengers may continue to their destination. If passengers are not inoculated, the government will offer them to get vaccinated. —KBK, GMA News