RT-PCR Test No Longer Required for Fully-Vaxxed Travelers

Foreigners and Filipinos alike who are fully vaccinated that will enter the Philippines starting on May 30 will no longer be required a transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) upon arriving in the country.

This comes as acting as Deputy Presidential Spokesperson and Communications Undersecretary Michel Kristian Ablan said in an online press briefing that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) passed a new resolution on Thursday that approves the new health protocol.

The new IATF-EID resolution 168 says that inbound passengers will no longer be required to present an RT-PCR test, granted that they are 18 years old and above, and at least have been inoculated with a first booster shot against the COVID-19 virus.

Those who are aged 12-17 and have been vaccinated with two COVID-19 vaccines are also exempted from the pre-departure RT-PCR requirement.

Moreover, children aged 12 and below who are accompanied by fully-vaccinated parents or guardians are also exempted from the RT-PCR requirement.

Meanwhile, the travel insurance requirement for incoming passengers protocol has also been lifted. (GFB)