PH requires testing, quarantine for vaccinated arrivals

The Philippines will require individuals vaccinated against COVID-19 abroad to undergo testing and quarantine upon arrival, due to limited knowledge about vaccine impact on transmissibility.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) made this decision despite ongoing vaccination programs in other countries.

The Philippines aims to start its own immunization program in the first half of the year.

Foreign diplomats and members of international organizations are exempted from travel restrictions related to the new COVID-19 variant but must still undergo RT-PCR testing and a 14-day quarantine.

Individuals entering the Philippines for medical or emergency reasons, along with their escorts, are also exempted from entry bans.

Filipinos returning from countries with travel restrictions or who have recently visited these areas must adhere to a strict 14-day facility-based quarantine, unless granted exceptions for highly exceptional or medical reasons by the Department of Health.