MANILA, Philippines — Starting tomorrow, a shorter mandatory quarantine period of seven days in a government-accredited facility will be required for all Filipinos vaccinated in the Philippines regardless of travel history and those vaccinated abroad coming from “green” or low-risk countries.
All arriving individuals qualified for the seven-day quarantine rule are required to undergo reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests on the fifth day of the quarantine, with day one being the date of arrival, according to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
The order is contained in IATF Resolution 123-C signed on Monday, which provides “green lanes” for fully vaccinated individuals traveling to the Philippines.
The IATF order requires unvaccinated travelers or those who have not completed their doses to undergo the 14-day mandatory quarantine.
The task force directed the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) to ensure strict symptom monitoring in the facility for seven days.
After completing the seven-day quarantine period, travelers are required to monitor themselves for any symptom in the next seven days.”
The IATF said the RT-PCR testing on the fifth day would be subject to review after 30 days from implementation.
“Should the RT-PCR test yield a negative result, the individual should complete the seven-day quarantine. If found positive, he should follow the prescribed isolation protocols,” the IATF said.
Upon completion of quarantine, the BOQ should issue a quarantine certificate indicating the person’s vaccination status.
Those fully vaccinated in the country are advised to carry their vaccination card, which should be verified prior to departure by the Department of Information and Communications Technology or the city health officer of the local government unit which administered the full vaccination.
Those vaccinated abroad must also carry their official documentation of full vaccination validated through the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO), or present their international certificate of vaccination, whichever is applicable.
Tavel ban extended
As this developed, the government extended the travel restrictions it imposed on Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Oman and the United Arab Emirates until July 15 to deter the spread of the more infectious Delta variant.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said the public should continue to strictly observe health protocols and focus on international border control.
The IATF issued Resolution 123 after taking note of the continuous prevalence of the Delta variant.
The IATF approved a request of the Philippine Swimming Inc. to host the Israeli National Swimming Team for their pre-Olympic training under the sports bubble format at the New Clark City Aquatics Center in Capas, Tarlac from July 8 to 21.
The government said that event organizers and participants should strictly follow the approved health and safety protocols.
During yesterday’s press conference, Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega stressed the need to intensify border control in all of the country’s ports of entry and monitoring of all individuals arriving from abroad.
Vega said there are 17 cases of Delta variants identified through genome sequencing, although there is still no local transmission recorded in the country.
“We need border control for the 10-plus-four and quarantine for returning overseas passengers, especially those coming from international airports,” Vega said, referring to 10 cities of Bacolod, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete, Iloilo, General Santos, Legazpi, Naga, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga.
Vega expressed concern that while active cases start to decrease in Metro Manila, some provinces in Eastern and Western Visayas, Caraga, Zamboanga peninsula, Davao Region and Soccskasargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat Sarangani and General Santos) have been classified as “high-risk.”
The Department of Health is working on two strategies in Metro Manila and some provinces, which focus on aggressive prevention, detection, isolation, quarantine and contact tracing.
Vega said there is also a need to scale up the vaccination process to enable the country to reach the status of population protection.
Migrant inclusion sought
Meanhile, the Philippines called anew for the inclusion of migrants, regardless of their migration status, in national vaccination plans and recovery programs of both destination and origin countries.
“The pandemic has greatly impacted them in view of their critical role in the frontlines of both global and national COVID-19 responses. Many have paid a great cost, some with their lives,” said Ambassador Enrique Manalo, permanent representative of the Philippines to the United Nations.
Manalo paid tribute to the dedication and selflessness of health care workers all over the world during the launch of the Joint Statement in support of the International Year of Health and Care Workers at the United Nations General Assembly on June 22.
He reaffirmed Philippine support for the implementation of the Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel to ensure that migrants are not excluded from universal health coverage.
Manalo informed the UN that the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 has been updated following the adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, and that the government enacted laws that enhance the social protection of overseas Filipinos.
In his remarks, UN general assembly president Volkan Bozir called on member-states to enhance and promote the safety and protection of medical personnel.
In a pre-recorded video, World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the WHO designated 2021 as the International Year of Health and Care Workers with the theme “Protect. Invest. Together.”
The Joint Statement initiated by Brazil, Georgia, Japan, South Africa, Thailand and Turkey recognized the efforts of health workers in addressing the pandemic.
It also emphasized the importance of providing all health care workers the necessary protection and support they need.
A total of 130 delegations including the Philippines co-sponsored the Joint Statement. – Pia Lee-Brago