Swab upon arrival stays amid new IATF protocols

CEBU, Philippines — Regardless of vaccination status, all international passengers arriving at Mactan Cebu International Airport must submit to a swab test.

Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, Capitol consultant and chief pathologist of the Department of Health in Central Visayas, said that Cebu’s test-upon arrival policy will continue for the safety and protection of everyone despite the latest protocols issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Under IATF Resolution No. 143, fully-vaccinated individuals from countries under “green list” only need to present an RT-PCR test result conducted 72 hours before travel. A facility-based quarantine upon arrival is also not required, but home isolation is urged.

“Ito po ang ating polisiya na ang lahat ng darating sa MCIAA na kahit sinabi po ng IATF resolution 143 na ikaw ay may dalang RT-PCR na negatibo, pagdating dito, ikaw po dito e-swaswab...We will still proceed with our swabbing upon arrival for all those, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, whether you are bringing with you a 72-hour old RT-PCR test negative result or weather wala…para tayo ay sigurado na kayo po ay negative ng COVID,” said Loreche.

Unlike before where hotel quarantine is required while waiting for the test result, this time arriving passengers will be released right after being swabbed.

“E re-release naman po kayo agad at ipapadala na lang yung inyong results,” said Loreche.

Malacañang announced Friday that fully-vaccinated travelers from countries under “green list” are no longer required to undergo facility-based quarantine.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the Interagency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease has “streamlined” and “codified” testing and quarantine protocols for international arriving passengers entering the Philippines.

Included in the green list are Algeria, American Samoa, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Chad, China (Mainland), Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Eritrea, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Gibraltar, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China), Kiribati, Madagascar, Mali, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Montserrat, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, North Korea, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Poland, Saba (Special Municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands), Saint Helena, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Sint Eustatius, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tokelau, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu and Yemen.

Roque said that passengers coming from Romania, which was placed under the “red list,” are not allowed to enter the country from Oct. 16 to 31.

All other countries/jurisdictions/territories not mentioned are classified as “yellow list.” The IATF classifies red list, yellow list, and green list countries as "high risk," "moderate risk," and "low risk" for COVID-19, respectively.

Roque said fully vaccinated foreign nationals are required to present a negative RT-PCR test within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin.

“Upon arrival, no facility-based quarantine will be further required but the passenger is enjoined to self-monitor for any symptoms until the 14th day,” he said.

He said fully vaccinated overseas Filipino workers or non-overseas Filipino workers can choose facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken in the quarantine facility upon arrival, or no facility-based quarantine after getting a negative RT-PCR test within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin but they are enjoined to self-monitor for any symptoms until the 14th day.

For unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or individuals whose vaccination status cannot be independently verified, and those vaccinated but failed to comply with the test-before-travel requirements, they shall undergo a facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day, Roque said.

In the case of foreign nationals, they are required to secure hotel reservations for at least six days.

In the case of unvaccinated or partially vaccinated minor children traveling with their fully vaccinated parent/s or guardians, they must follow the quarantine protocols corresponding to their vaccination status.

A parent/guardian shall accompany the child in the quarantine facility for the full term of the latter’s facility-based quarantine period.

Fully vaccinated individuals from “yellow list” countries need to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day. After which, they shall be required to undergo home quarantine until their 10th day. Foreign nationals are required to secure their pre-booked accommodation for at least six days. — FPL (FREEMAN)