Philippines Adds Portugal to Red List Countries

Heads up, travelers.
Photo/s: Jerome Ascaño

Travelers from Portugal will be prohibited entry to the Philippines starting Dec. 15, Malacañang said Friday as the Philippines guards against the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

The travel ban is effective for 14 days but excludes Filipinos returning to the Philippines via government or private repatriation efforts, Cabinet Sec. Karlo Nograles said.

Travelers who will arrive in the Philippines from Portugal starting Dec. 12 meanwhile will still be allowed entry subject to COVID-19 testing and quarantine for Red List countries.

To recap, fully vaccinated individuals need to present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours before their departure from their country of origin and must undergo a facility-based quarantine upon arrival in the Philippines.

They need to take another RT-PCR test on the seventh day of their quarantine. Should they test negative, they can continue home quarantine until the 14th day. For those who will test positive, appropriate health protocols will be observed.

Continue reading below ↓

For those who are partially vaccinated, unvaccinated, or whose vaccination status cannot be independently verified, the Philippines requires a negative RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours before their departure from their country of origin.

Upon arrival in the Philippines, they must undergo a facility-based quarantine for 10 days with RT-PCR testing on the seventh day of their quarantine. Regardless of the result of the RT-PCR test, they are required to complete the 10 day quarantine and continue home quarantine until the 14th day.

Minors and teens traveling will follow the same testing and quarantine protocols of the adult companion, Nograles said.

Children aged 3 years old and below however are exempted from presenting a negative RT-PCR test result before departure unless they are symptomatic.

Portugal joins the list of countries that the Philippines has banned travelers from this month namely France, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Mozambique. 

Continue reading below ↓
Recommended Videos

The Philippines has yet to report any case of the Omicron coronavirus variant but Health Sec. Francisco Duque III had said that its arrival is only a "matter of when."

MORE ON OMICRON:

Omicron and Vaccines: What You Need to Know

'Highly Unlikely' Existing Vaccines Will Fail Against Omicron: WHO

Omicron Likely Picked Up a Piece of the Common Cold Virus

Latest Headlines
Recent News