The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has approved the “yellow” and “red” classifications of countries based on their COVID-19 incidence rates and case counts in the past 28 days.
“This is based on their respective incidence rates and case counts as primary criteria, and testing data as secondary criteria. The incidence rate is the cumulative new cases over the past 28 days per 100,000 population while case counts are cumulative new cases over the past 28 days,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement on Sunday (Sept. 4).
In addition to the Green List countries, jurisdictions, and territories, the IATF classified countries under the Yellow List as moderate risk, while those under the Red List are considered high risk for COVID-19.
Travelers from territories under the Yellow List shall undergo RT-PCR testing on the seventh day, and complete their quarantine in an accredited facility for 10 days.
Meanwhile, only returning overseas Filipinos via a government-initiated repatriation, non-government-initiated repatriation, and Bayanihan flights may be allowed entry from territories under the Red List.
The IATF has also updated its “green list”, a list of countries, jurisdictions, or territories that are considered “low-risk.”
Included in the list are American Samoa, Anguilla, Australia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Chad, China, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Gabon, Grenada, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China), Hungary, Mali, Federated States of Micronesia, Montserrat, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niger, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Poland, Saba, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Sierra Leone, Sint Eustatius, Slovakia, and Taiwan.
The IATF earlier said COVID-19-vaccinated travelers from the Green List countries will be allowed a seven-day facility-based quarantine upon arrival here. – CF – bny
