Revised testing, quarantine protocols for int'l travelers to take effect Nov. 22 — NTF

The revised testing and quarantine protocols for international travelers will be implemented starting November 22, National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) spokesperson Restituto Padilla Jr. said Saturday.

At the Laging Handa briefing, Padilla said the government is further easing restrictions for those coming from "yellow" list countries or those tagged as moderate risk based on COVID-19 incidence rate and case count. The United States and Canada are among the countries in this group. 

Under the guidelines approved by the government’s COVID-19 task force on Thursday, fully vaccinated individuals coming from yellow countries must have a negative RT-PCR test conducted within 72 hours prior to departure.

Upon arrival, they shall undergo facility-based quarantine with a third day RT-PCR test, with the date of arrival being the first day. Previously, these travelers were required to undergo facility quarantine for five days.

Upon release of a negative RT-PCR test, they may be discharged from facility quarantine. They are then enjoined to self-monitor up to the 14th day from the date of arrival.

If without a negative pre-departure test, they shall undergo facility-based quarantine with a fifth day RT-PCR test, with the date of arrival being the first day.

If the test comes back negative, they may be discharged from facility quarantine. After this, they will be required to undergo home quarantine until the 10th day from the date of arrival.

Individuals who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or whose vaccination status cannot be independently validated must undergo facility-based quarantine with an RT-PCR test done on the seventh day, with the date of arrival being the first day.

Upon the release of a negative RT-PCR test, individuals shall be required to undergo home quarantine until the 14th day from the date of arrival.

For passengers coming from “green” list countries or areas with low risk for COVID-19 transmission, the protocols are the following:

1. For fully vaccinated Filipinos:

-Facility-based quarantine with on-arrival RT-PCR testing until the release of their negative results. After this, the individual is enjoined to self-monitor until the 14th day of their arrival with the date of arrival being the first day

-If with a negative test taken within 72 hours prior to the departure from the country of origin, no facility-based quarantine, and no on-arrival RT-PCR test is required.

2. For fully vaccinated foreigners, a negative RT-PCR test shall be required to be taken within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin. Upon arrival, no facility-based quarantine and no on-arrival RT-PCR test will be further required but the passenger is enjoined to self-monitor for any symptoms until the 14th day with the first day being the date of arrival.

3. For unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, individuals whose vaccination status cannot be independently validated, and those vaccinated but failed to comply with the test-before-travel requirements, they must undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day and self-monitor until the 14th day of arrival with the date of arrival being the first day.

Entry of travelers from “red" list countries or those tagged as high risk is still prohibited, except for Filipinos under a government or non-government initiated repatriation program.

These Filipinos must observe a 10-day facility-based quarantine with RT-PCR testing on the seventh day. Children will undergo the same quarantine procedure with their parents, regardless if they are vaccinated or not.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has also approved in principle the entry of tourists who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 from countries under the green list pending guidelines, the Department of Tourism said Friday.

DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said only fully vaccinated individuals inoculated with vaccines granted an emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration or those authorized by the World Health Organization will be allowed entry. — VBL, GMA News