By Azer Parrocha / Philippine News Agency
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has approved new testing and quarantine protocols, effective Dec. 3, for international passengers arriving from countries, territories, and jurisdictions on the green and yellow lists.
The green list is composed of countries, territories, and jurisdictions with a low risk of COVID-19 infection, while the yellow list is composed of destinations with a moderate risk of COVID-19 infection.
“For fully vaccinated individuals, they shall be required to have a negative RT-PCR test conducted within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin,” Cabinet Sec. and acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles said in a press statement.
“Upon arrival in the Philippines, they shall undergo facility-based quarantine with an RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day, with the date of arrival being the first day,” he added.
Regardless of a negative result, they shall be required to undergo home quarantine up to the 14th day from the date of arrival.
“Individuals who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or whose vaccination status cannot be independently validated, shall be required a negative RT-PCR test conducted within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin,” Nograles said.
Upon arrival in the Philippines, they shall undergo facility-based quarantine with an RT-PCR test done on the seventh day, with the date of arrival being the first day.
Regardless of a negative result, they shall be required to undergo home quarantine up to the 14th day from the date of arrival.
The Department of Transportation (DOTRr) must ensure that airlines board only passengers who comply with the negative RT-PCR test-before-travel requirement.
For minors, their testing and quarantine protocols shall follow the testing and quarantine protocol of the parent/guardian traveling with them, regardless of the minor’s vaccination status and country of origin.
International passengers who have already arrived and are currently undergoing quarantine shall continue with the testing and quarantine protocols in place at the time of their arrival.
Filipinos from red (high-risk) list countries, territories, and jurisdictions allowed entry via government-initiated or non-government repatriations and Bayanihan Flights shall only be allowed to deplane at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and Clark International Airport.
The DOTr, through their attached agencies, must ensure the compliance of airlines with this directive.
Upon arrival, the individual shall comply with the testing and quarantine protocols as prescribed under IATF Resolution No. 149-A (s. 2021).
Updated alert level classification metrics
Meanwhile, the IATF downgraded Apayao’s alert level classification to Alert Level 2, effective Dec. 3-15.
This was after the IATF amended the metrics for determining the alert level classifications of provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities.
The amendments include:
• Removing the One-Week Growth Rate as a metric for escalation from Alert Level 1 to Alert Level 2;
• The escalation of areas under Alert Level 1 to Alert Level 2 if either case classification or total COVID-19 bed utilization increases to moderate risk or higher;
• The escalation of areas under Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 3 if both case classification and total COVID-19 bed utilization are at moderate risk, or if case classification is at high to critical risk. (PNA) – jlo
