5 DAYS AFTER ARRIVAL

Returning Filipinos only have to take one COVID-19 test —Dizon

The government's testing czar, Vince Dizon, on Tuesday announced some changes in the testing protocols for returning Filipinos or other individuals arriving in the Philippines.

At a Palace briefing, Dizon said the government will no longer require a swab test for returning Filipinos at the airport. Instead, the test will be conducted on the fifth day after the arrival.

“Ngayon po ay hindi na po tayo magsa-swab pagdating ng ating mga kababayan at ibang dumarating sa Pilipinas sa airport. Diretso po sila sa quarantine facility,” he said.

“Requirement po na magkaroon ng booking sa isang quarantine facility o hotel for seven days bago po sila pumunta ng Pilipinas. At ang testing po ay mangyayari sa ikalimang araw,” he added.

Those with negative results will be endorsed to their respective local government units where they will be monitored during the remaining days of the 14-day quarantine at home.

Meanwhile, samples from those with positive results will be forwarded to Philippine Genome Center to detect if they were infected with the the coronavirus variant first traced in the United Kingdom.

Earlier, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases ordered Filipino passengers from countries covered by travel restrictions to take two tests: one upon arrival and the other one five days after.

On January 23, flag carrier Philippine Airlines said the task force advised them on some changes in the protocols. These passengers shall be given RT-PCR testing upon arrival and shall be given the option to avail of a second swab test on their fifth day of quarantine. —KBK, GMA News