Travel restrictions eased for fully vaccinated travelers, no more swab test needed, says IATF
Fully vaccinated individuals travelling within the country will now just have to present their vaccination card and will no longer need to have a COVID-19 swab test, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) said on Sunday, July 4.
Roque said that according to the IATF Resolution 124-B, the new rule will also apply to interzonal travel, or moving through areas with different community quarantine classifications. It also covers senior citizens who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
“This, however, is subject to the presentation of a COVID-19 domestic vaccination card duly issued by a legitimate vaccinating establishment, or certificate of quarantine completion showing the holder’s vaccination status as may be issued by the Bureau of Quarantine,” IATF spokesman Harry Roque said.
The IATF considers an individual as fully vaccinated two weeks after they received the first dose of their one-dose vaccine or two weeks after they received the second dose of their two-dose vaccine.
The vaccine administered must also be included in the Emergency Use of Authorization list, must have been given an emergency use authorization or Compassionate Special Permit by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration, or must be included in the vaccine Emergency Use Listing of the World Health Organization.
A fully vaccinated individual will be required to undergo quarantine if they are close contacts of probable and confirmed COVID-19. The quarantine will be shortened to seven days if they remain asymptomatic on the seventh day of their isolation. If the individual tests positive for COVID-19 or becomes symptomatic, prescribed testing and isolation protocols will be followed.
Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the IATF to extend the General Community Quarantine status of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal until July 15.
Banner photo vy The STAR/Michael Varcas