MANILA – Based on improved risk classification assessment and tight border control procedures, the government decided to loosen restrictions on travelers from ten countries beginning Monday.
Department of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an online media forum that four weeks before the lifting of travel restrictions on India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, the country adapted guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States.
President Rodrigo Duterte approved the suggestion to loosen the travel restrictions over the weekend.
“Aside from this from CDC guidelines, dinagdagan pa namin ang ating parameter para mas may leeway tayo for other countries kasi masyadong naging mahigpit ‘yung parameters ng CDC and almost all countries napupunta doon sa (we added one parameter for leeway for other countries because the CDC parameters are too strict and almost all countries fall under) high, moderate risk classification,” Vergeire said on Monday.
“We added one metric, and this is the incidence rate of Covid-19 cases, and because of the CDC classification, other restrictions in our country like India, Indonesia, Malaysia, their situation improved based on the assessment internationally, they have gone to the moderate risk level countries, and their restrictions were lifted,” she added.
Vergeire stated that precautions have been put in place and that the government has strict border controls, including a 14-day quarantine requirement for all inbound travelers, regardless of vaccination status.
The first ten days of quarantine must be spent in a facility, with the remaining four days being spent at home.
The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction tests of inbound passengers will be conducted on the seventh day of quarantine to avoid false negative or positive results.
