Philippines places Portugal under Red List amid pandemic

The Philippine government has placed Portugal under the Red List or countries with a high risk of COVID-19 infection effective December 12, the Palace said Friday.

Acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said this is based on Inter-Agency Task Force Resolution 153 which will allow travelers from Portugal to enter the Philippines before December 15 provided that they will observe quarantine protocols for Filipino travelers on board repatriation flights from Red List countries.

This means travelers from Portugal who will arrive in the Philippines before December 15 will have to present a negative RT-PCR test taken 72 hours before their arrival to the country and will be subjected to facility-based quarantine and RT-PCR test on the seventh day.

If the RT-PCR test yields a negative result, the individual will complete the rest of the mandated 14-day quarantine at home.

From December 15 onwards, travelers from Portugal and the rest of Red List countries will not be allowed to enter the Philippines except those Filipino travelers on board repatriation flights.

Countries have tightened borders amid the discovery of a new coronavirus variant Omicron which was first detected by South African authorities. — RSJ, GMA News