The Philippines on Friday updated its quarantine protocols for international arrivals, easing rules for fully vaccinated individuals coming from areas classified as low-risk for COVID-19 transmission.
Different quarantine protocols will cover travelers depending on the classification of their country of origin in terms of COVID-19 risk: Green List or low risk, Yellow List or moderate risk, and Red List or high risk.
READ: GUIDE: Green, Yellow, Red Travel Lists for Oct. 16 to 31
Here are the quarantine protocols approved by the Philippines' inter-agency task force on COVID-19 response:
Green List
For fully vaccinated foreigners
A negative RT-PCR test is required to be taken within 72 hours prior to the departure from the country of origin. Upon arrival, no facility-based quarantine will be required but the passenger is enjoined to self-monitor for any symptoms until the 14th day.
For fully vaccinated Filipinos
Returning Filipinos who are fully vaccinated can choose facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken in the quarantine facility upon arrival, or they can choose to forgo the facility-based quarantine but they should have a negative RT-PCR test within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin.
For the unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, those with unverified vaccination status, and those vaccinated but failed to get COVID tested before departure
They shall undergo a facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day. In the case of foreign nationals, they shall be 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 parents or guardians, they shall be required to observe the quarantine protocols corresponding to their vaccination status. A parent or guardian shall accompany the child in the quarantine facility for the full term of the latter’s facility-based quarantine period.
Yellow List
For fully vaccinated individuals
They need to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day. Afterward, they shall be required to undergo home quarantine until their 10th day. Foreign nationals shall be required to secure their pre-booked accommodation of at least six days.
For the unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, those with unverified vaccination status
They shall undergo a facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on the seventh day. Afterward, they shall be required to undergo home quarantine until their 14th day. Foreign nationals shall be required to secure their pre-booked accommodation of at least eight days.
Red List
All individuals coming from Red List areas regardless of vaccination status shall be prohibited entry to the Philippines.
Only Filipinos returning to the Philippines via the government's repatriation efforts are allowed to enter the country subject to the following protocols:
1. All arriving passengers shall undergo 14-day quarantine upon arrival. The first 10 days shall be observed in a quarantine facility, with the remainder to be completed under home quarantine in their respective local government units of destination.
2. RT-PCR testing shall be conducted on the seventh day. Notwithstanding a negative test result, the arriving passenger shall complete the facility-based quarantine period of 10 days.
3. The Bureau of Quarantine shall ensure strict symptom monitoring while in the facility quarantine for 10 days.
4. All passengers merely transiting through a Red List shall not be deemed as having come from or having been to said country/jurisdiction/territory if they stayed in the airport the whole time and were not cleared for entry by its immigration authorities.
5. Upon arrival in the Philippines, passengers covered by the preceding paragraph shall comply with the existing and testing protocols.
For validation of vaccination status, the Philippines honors the following documents:
1. VaxCertPH digital certificate
2. Bureau of Quarantine or World Health Organization– issued International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis
3. The national digital certificate of the foreign government where they were vaccinated.
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