Returning Filipinos will now have to take one swab testing, as per the Philippines’ testing czar Vince Dizon.
As per the new testing protocol, overseas Filipinos will only have to undergo COVID-19 testing on the 5th day after their arrival in the country.
[UPDATE] One PCR Test Only Required for Overseas Filipinos Arriving in PH
With this update, the previously mandatory swab test at airports will no longer be required, ABS-CBN News reported.
In an online briefing on Tuesday, February 3, Dizon said: “Ngayon po ay hindi na po tayo magsa-swab pagdating ng ating mga kababayan at ng ibang dumarating sa Pilipinas. Sa airport, diretso po sila sa quarantine facility.”
(We will no longer require overseas Filipinos and those traveling to the Philippines to get a swab test on the day of their arrival. So, from the airport, they will now have to proceed to the quarantine facility.)
Dizon added: “Requirement po na magkaroon ng booking sa isang quarantine facility o hotel for seven days bago po sila pumunta ng Pilipinas. At ang testing po ay mangyayari sa ikalimang araw.”
(Overseas Filipinos are now required to book an accommodation in any quarantine facility or hotel for seven days before they are allowed to travel to the Philippines. Testing will be provided on the 5th day of their stay.)
Meanwhile, those whose swab test results turn out negative will then be endorsed to their local government units (LGUs).
For those whose tests turn out positive, their samples will be sent to the Philippine Genome Center for genome sequencing.
“Sa mga magpopositibo po, yung resulta po nila ay kailangang i-genome sequence para malaman po natin kung ito ay yung luma o bagong variant ng COVID-19,” Dizon explained.
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