The country's pandemic task force has decided to place Romania on its red list while it placed 49 territories under the green list from October 16 to 31, 2021.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases came up with the updated list on October 14.
Romania is still classified under the red list, the classification for countries considered as "high risk" based on the rate of coronavirus (COVID-19) infections.
The 49 territories in the green list are:
- Algeria,
- American Samoa
- Bhutan
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Cayman Islands
- Chad
- China
- Comoros
- Republic of the Congo
- Cook Islands
- Eritrea
- Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
- Gibraltar
- Hong Kong
- Kiribati
- Madagascar
- Mali
- Marshall Islands
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Montserrat
- Nauru
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Niue
- North Korea
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Palau
- Poland
- Saba (Special Municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
- Saint Helena
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Samoa
- Sierra Leone
- Sint Eustatius
- Solomon Islands
- Sudan
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Tokelau
- Tonga
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Yemen
All other countries, jurisdictions, or territories not mentioned are under the yellow list (moderate risk for COVID-19).
Green list testing, quarantine protocols
Meanwhile, Roque said the IATF streamlined and codified testing and quarantine protocols for international arriving passengers entering the Philippines.
For fully vaccinated foreign nationals coming from the green list territories, a negative RT-PCR test shall be required to be taken within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin. They will no longer be required to undergo a facility-based quarantine but will be enjoined to self-monitor for any symptoms until the 14th day.
Fully vaccinated Filipinos from green-listed territories can choose facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative COVID-19 test taken in the quarantine facility upon their arrival, or no facility-based quarantine after getting a negative test result within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin. They are likewise enjoined to self-monitor for any symptoms until the 14th day.
Travelers who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or whose vaccination status cannot be independently verified, and those vaccinated but failed to comply with the test-before-travel requirements, shall undergo a facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative COVID-19 test taken on the fifth day. Foreign nationals must secure hotel reservations for at least six days.
Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children traveling with their fully vaccinated parent/s or guardians are required to observe the quarantine protocols corresponding to their vaccination status. A parent/guardian shall accompany the child in the quarantine facility for the full term of the latter’s facility-based quarantine period.
Yellow list testing, quarantine protocols
Fully vaccinated individuals from the yellow list territories must facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day. After which, they shall be required to undergo home quarantine until their 10th day. Foreign nationals must secure their pre-booked accommodation of at least 6 days.
For unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or individuals whose vaccination status cannot be independently verified, they shall undergo a facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on the seventh day. After which, they shall be required to undergo home quarantine until their 14th day. Foreign nationals must secure their pre-booked accommodation of at least eight days.
Red list protocols
Meanwhile, the inbound international travel of all persons, regardless of vaccination status, coming from or who have been to red list territories within the last 14 days prior to arrival to the Philippines shall not be allowed.
Only Filipinos returning to the country via government-initiated repatriation, non-government-initiated repatriation, and Bayanihan Flights may be allowed entry, subject to testing and quarantine protocols.
All arriving passengers shall undergo 14-day quarantine upon arrival. The first 10 days shall be observed in a quarantine facility, while the rest must be completed under home quarantine in their respective local government units (LGUs).
RT-PCR testing shall be conducted on the seventh day. The arriving passenger shall complete the facility-based quarantine period of 10 days regardless of the test result.
The Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) shall ensure strict symptom monitoring while in the facility quarantine for 10 days.
All passengers merely transiting through the red list territories shall not be deemed as having come from or having been there if they stayed in the airport the whole time and were not cleared for entry by its immigration authorities.
Validation of vaccination status
To validate their vaccination status, international Filipino travelers, their spouse, parent/s, and/or children; and foreigners vaccinated in the Philippines can present either their VaxCertPH digital vaccination certificate, BOQ/World Health Organization (WHO)-issued International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICV), or the national/state digital certificate of the foreign government where they were vaccinated, which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal agreement unless otherwise permitted by the IATF.
In the case of foreigners vaccinated abroad, they can present WHO-issued ICV, or the national/state digital certificate of the foreign government which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal agreement unless otherwise permitted by the IATF.