Foreign diplomats and dignitaries will be exempted from entry restrictions imposed on travelers from countries with the new coronavirus variant based on the latest decision of the government pandemic task force.
These foreign visitors, however, must still undergo testing and quarantine protocols upon arrival in the country, according to Resolution No. 92 issued by Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
The government had earlier prohibited the entry of all foreign travelers coming from 21 countries/jurisdictions affected by the new COVID-19 strain until Jan. 15.
"Local/accredited foreign diplomats and international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations shall be exempted from quarantine protocols as long as they will undergo RT-PCR test upon arrival at the airport, execute an undertaking, and observe strict 14-day quarantine,” the IATF resolution read.
Also exempted are foreign dignitaries who shall observe existing testing and quarantine protocols upon arrival and those for medical and emergency cases, including their medical escorts.
The government recently included the United States in the list of nations with travel restrictions to prevent the spread of the new COVID strain which is believed to be more contagious. Twenty other countries, including the United Kingdom where the new variant was first detected, are covered by the entry restrictions until mid-January.
The travel restrictions do not cover Filipinos but they must still undergo 14-day facility-based quarantine upon arrival.
"Filipino citizens coming from countries/jurisdictions where travel restrictions are in place, or who have been to the said areas within fourteen (14) days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines shall strictly observe an absolute fourteen (14)-day facility-based quarantine period, except for highly exceptional and/or medical reasons, which the DOH would determine," presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement Wednesday.
COVID-19 Variants Technical Working Group
The government has also formed a Technical Working Group on COVID-19 Variants in compliance with President Duterte's order.
"This Technical Working Group will monitor and identify the occurrence of new variants of COVID-19 in the country and will provide policy recommendations to the IATF on the appropriate response regarding these variants," Roque said.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire will chair the new technical group with Executive Director Jaime Montoya of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development as co-chair.
Members include Dr. Anna Ong-Lim of the DOH (Department of Health) Technical Advisory Group (TAG); Dr. Marissa Alejandria of the DOH TAG; Dr. Edsel Maurice Salvana of the DOH TAG; Dr. Celia Carlos of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine; Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-dela Paz of the University of the Philippines National Institutes of Health; Dr. Cynthia Saloma of the University of the Philippines–Philippine Genome Center; and Dr. John Wong of Epimetrics.
The President had earlier expressed concern that the pandemic has taken a dangerous turn following the spread of the new COVID strain in other parts of the country. With people still in danger of getting infected, Duterte appealed anew to the public to observe health protocols while waiting for the arrival of the initial vaccine supply in March.