The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) against COVID-19 approved the recommendation to test inbound travelers to the Philippines on the 7th day of the quarantine, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on Friday.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Inter-Agency Task Force also mandated travelers to complete the 14-day quarantine period—10 days at the national level, 4 days at the local level in government-approved quarantine facilities.
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“This is a process para ma-ensure natin that even though nakakapasok pa rin ang ibang travelers, especially Pilipino, sa ating bansa nasisiugro natin na naiisolate natin sila nang maayos to break the chain of transmission,” Vergeire said in a press briefing.
DOH earlier recommended the revision of testing protocols citing evidence that the viral load remains high on eight day of isolation.
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Travelers and returning Filipinos are previously required to undergo COVID-19 tests on their fifth day of isolation. (RA)
