The Philippines will soon welcome fully vaccinated foreign tourists from countries at low risk of COVID-19 or those part of the "Green List", Malacañang said Friday, paving the way for single Filipinos to finally meet in-person their Tinder Passport matches and long distance flames.
Cabinet Sec. Karlo Nograles said fully vaccinated foreigners from Green List countries can soon enter the Philippines subject to the guidelines that would be issued by the inter-agency task force on COVID-19 response.
"Tourists shall be allowed entry in the country subject to guidelines as may be finalized and approved by the IATF basta mula sa Green List," Nograles told reporters.
For those who are unfamiliar with Tinder Passport, it's a paid feature on the popular dating app that allows users to find matches outside their country.
The IATF also approved the following new COVID-19 testing and quarantine protocols for travelers arriving in the Philippines effective Nov. 22:
For travelers from Green List countries:
For fully vaccinated Filipinos:
Those who tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours prior to their departure, no longer need to undergo facility-based quarantine and RT-PCR testing.
Those who don't have COVID-19 test results are required to undergo facility-based quarantine with on-arrival RT-PCR testing until the release of their negative results.
Afterwards, they are urged to self-monitor until the 14th day of their arrival with the date of their arrival as the first day.
For fully vaccinated foreigners:
They are required to test negative for COVID-19 via RT-PCR within 72 hours prior to departure.
Upon arrival, they no longer need to undergo quarantine and further testing, but should self-monitor until the 14th day of their arrival with the date of their arrival as the first day.
For unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, those with unverified vaccination status:
They are required to undergo facility-based quarantine with on-arrival RT-PCR testing until the release of their negative results.
Afterward, they are urged to self-monitor until the 14th day of their arrival with the date of their arrival as the first day.
For travelers from Yellow List countries:
For fully vaccinated individuals:
They are required to test negative for COVID-19 via RT-PCR within 72 hours prior to departure.
Upon arrival, they are required to undergo facility-based quarantine with a third-day RT-PCR test with the date of arrival being the first day. They can leave the facility once their negative results are out and should self-monitor until the 14th day of their arrival with the date of their arrival as the first day.
For those without a negative pre-departure test, they are required to undergo facility-based quarantine with a fifth-day RT-PCR test with the date of arrival being the first day.
They can leave the facility once their negative results are out and should undergo home quarantine until the 10th day of their arrival with the date of their arrival as the first day.
For unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, those with unverified vaccination status:
They are required to undergo facility-based quarantine with RT-PCR testing done on the seventh day with the date of arrival as the first day.
Once they test negative, they are required to undergo home quarantine14th day of their arrival with the date of their arrival as the first day.
For travelers from Red List countries:
Except for Filipinos returning to the Philippines via Bayanihan flights and government-initiated repatriation efforts, all individuals regardless of vaccination status are prohibited from entering the Philippines.
For Filipinos allowed to enter the Philippines, they need to undergo a 10-day facility-based quarantine and RT-PCR testing on the seventh day with the date of arrival as the first day.
MORE QUARANTINE NEWS:
Your Boss Can Still Require Face Shields at Work, Palace Says
Should Malls Be Off Limits to Kids? Metro Manila Mayors Firm Up Guidelines
Metro Manila to Stay Under Alert Level 2 Until Nov. 30
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