Fully vaccinated tourists with negative RT-PCR results soon to be allowed to enter: Nograles
Fully vaccinated tourists with negative RT-PCR results from Japan and other countries under Green List will soon be allowed to enter the country without the need to undergo facility based quarantine.
"For fully vaccinated foreigners coming from the Green List, a negative RT-PCR test is required within 72 hours prior to departure. And upon arrival, no facility-based quarantine and no on arrival RT-PCR test necessary and then they will just have to monitor themselves," Acting Presidential Spokesman Karlo Nograles said in a virtual Palace briefing on Friday.
Nograles did not say when tourists will be allowed as he noted the guidelines are still being adjusted and finalized by the IATF.
"To complement our DOT’s efforts to promote Philippine tourism for fully vaccinated individuals coming from green list countries, territories and jurisdictions, they shall be, meaning to say, tourists shall be allowed entry in the country subject to the guidelines as may be finalized and approved by the IATF," he said.
"This is in line with the tourism efforts that we do, which is also being done by other countries. Our neighboring countries are already opening their shores, and also us, we are confident to open up our shores for tourists, as long as they come from the Green List," he added.
Aside from Japan, other countries under Green List were American Samoa, Bhutan, Chad, China (Mainland), Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Federated States of Micronesia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China), India, Indonesia, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands, Montserrat, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Northern Mariana Islands, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Paraguay, Rwanda, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sint Eustatius, South Africa, Sudan, Taiwan, Togo, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Nograles said "interim testing and quarantine protocols of international arriving passengers were also approved by the IATF on Thursday which will be implemented beginning November 22, 2021.
Nograles said the resolution states that "fully vaccinated Filipinos coming from green list countries who have not taken an RT-PCR test 72 hours prior to their departure, they must undergo facility-based quarantine with on arrival RT-PCR testing until the release of their negative results.''
''After this, the individual is enjoined to self-monitoring until the 14th day of their arrival with the date of arrival being the first day," he said.
"If a fully vaccinated Filipino has taken a negative test within 72 hours prior to the departure from a green list country, no facility-based quarantine and no on arrival RT-PCR test will be required," he said.
For fully vaccinated foreigners coming from Green List, Nograles noted that "A negative RT-PCR test shall be required to be taken within 72 hours prior to departure; and upon arrival, no facility-based quarantine and no on arrival RT-PCR test will be further required. But the passenger is enjoined to self-monitor for any symptoms until the 14th day, again, with the first day being the date of arrival."
He said ''for unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or individuals whose vaccination status cannot be independently validated and those vaccinated but failed to comply with the above test before travel requirements, facility-based quarantine will be required until the release of their negative RT-PCR test taken on the 5th day, after which they are enjoined to self-monitor until the 14th day of their arrival from a green list country."
"All passengers whether Filipinos or foreigners, merely transiting through non-green list jurisdictions shall not be deemed as having come from or having been to the said country, territory or jurisdiction if they stayed in the airport the whole time and were not cleared for entry by its immigration authorities," he added.
Nograles said for fully vaccinated individuals coming from yellow list countries, a negative RT-PCR test done within 72 hours prior to departure from the country will be required.
"Upon arrival, they shall undergo facility-based quarantine with a third day RT-PCR test with the date of arrival considered the first day. Upon release of a negative RT-PCR test, they may be discharged from facility quarantine after which they are enjoined to self-monitor up to the 14th day from date of arrival," he said.
"On the other hand, fully vaccinated individuals from “Yellow List” nations without a negative pre-departure test shall be required to undergo facility-based quarantine with a fifth day RT-PCR test with the date of arrival considered the first day,'' he said.
Upon the release of a negative RT-PCR test, they may be discharged from facility quarantine after which they shall be required to undergo home quarantine until the tenth day from date of arrival from a Yellow List country," Nograles explained.
"Individuals who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or whose vaccination status cannot be independently validated are to undergo facility-based quarantine with an RT-PCR test done on the seventh day with the date of arrival being the first day. So, seventh day. Upon the release of a negative RT-PCR test, individuals shall be required to undergo home quarantine until the 14th day from date of arrival," he said.
Nograles said "inbound international travel of all persons regardless of vaccination status coming from or who have been to Red List territory, within the last 14 days prior to arrival to any port of the Philippines, shall not be allowed."
"Only Filipinos returning to the country via government-initiated repatriation, non-government-initiated repatriation and Bayanihan flights may be allowed entry subject to a 10-day facility-based quarantine upon arrival," he said.
"Passengers, whether Filipinos or foreigners, merely transiting through Red List nation shall not be deemed as having come from or having been to said country/territory/jurisdiction or if they stay on/if they stayed in the airport the entirety of their layover and were not cleared by its Immigration authorities. Upon arrival in the Philippines, passengers who merely transited through a Red List nation shall comply with existing testing and quarantine protocols," said Nograles.
"Testing and quarantine protocols of minors shall follow – ito, importante ito, ulitin natin – Testing and quarantine protocols of minors shall follow the testing and quarantine protocols of the parent or guardian they are travelling with regardless of the minor’s vaccination status and country of origin," he added. Robina Asido/DMS
