The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) approved the recommendation to relax age-based restrictions for areas placed under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) beginning February 1, 2021.
Any person below ten (10) years old and those who are over sixty-five (65) years of age shall be required to remain in their residence at all times.
Local government units (LGUs), on the other hand, are enjoined to adopt the same relaxation of age-restrictions for areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ).
Also ratified during the 95th IATF meeting was the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19, which shall serve as guide for vaccination implementers, such as the LGUs.
On the other hand, the request of the Professional Regulation Commission to conduct and administer the licensure examinations for professionals scheduled for January to March 2021 was approved.
Meanwhile, the IATF amended its earlier resolution, IATF Resolution No 92, on all foreign travelers covered by travel restrictions because of the new COVID-19 variants by specifying those exempted, such as foreign nationals with valid visas, which include personnel of accredited international organizations, and spouse and minor children of Filipino citizens traveling with them. Those who arrive for medical and emergency cases, including their medical escorts, if any, are now subject to applicable testing and quarantine protocols as prescribed by the Department of Health (DOH).
From the strict observation of an absolute fourteen (14) day facility-based quarantine period for Filipino citizens coming from areas where travel restrictions are in place, the IATF amended this to prescribed testing and quarantine protocols.
Further, Filipino citizens arriving for highly exceptional and/or medical reasons and local diplomats are now subject to applicable quarantine protocols as prescribed by the DOH.
On testing and quarantine protocols for passengers coming from, or transiting through, countries where travel restrictions are in place due to new COVID-19 variants, these incoming passengers shall be tested upon arrival and shall be quarantined until the result of the subsequent test administered on the fifth day is released.
Also amended were sections related to hotels or accommodation establishments on the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines as proposed by the Department of Tourism.
