Gov't allows shortened quarantine for COVID-19 close contacts who are fully vaccinated

The national government on Sunday shortened the quarantine period of close contacts of COVID-19-infected individuals who are fully vaccinated, from 10 days to seven days.

"In situations when fully vaccinated individuals are close contacts of probable and confirmed COVID-19 cases, they may undergo a shortened 7-day quarantine period only if they remain asymptomatic for the duration of the 7-day period," presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a  statement.

In case there is a need for swab tests, fully vaccinated individuals may be tested not earlier than the 5th day after the date of their last exposure from the virus, he added.

Also, Roque said no testing and quarantine will be mandated for "close contacts who may have been traced beyond the 7th day from the last exposure and who remained asymptomatic."

Testing and isolation protocols must still be followed once the individual becomes symptomatic, he also said.

The Palace official said a person is considered fully inoculated if it has been two weeks or more since he or she received the second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine, or two weeks or more since receiving a single-dose COVID-19 jab.

In addition, a fully vaccinated individual must be administered with vaccines that have emergency use authorization or was issued Compassionate Special Permit (CSP) by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration or is included in the Emergency Use Listing of the World Health Organization.

Interzonal travel for seniors

The intrazonal movement of fully vaccinated senior citizens within areas under general community quarantine and modified general community quarantine will still be allowed, Roque explained.

They must, however, present a COVID-19 domestic vaccination card "duly issued by a legitimate vaccinating establishment, or certificate of quarantine completion showing the holder’s vaccination status as may be issued by the Bureau of Quarantine."  

On the other hand, the presentation of a COVID-19 domestic vaccination card as long as it is legitimate will also be sufficient alternatives to any testing requirement (before travel or upon arrival) which the local government of destination may require.

"This interzonal travel shall likewise apply to fully vaccinated senior citizens. Also, the traveler needs to undergo health and exposure screening upon arrival in the local government of destination," Roque added.

Shorter quarantine period for arriving Filipinos who are fully inoculated and who came from green countries or low-risk areas was also earlier approved by the national government. —KG, GMA News