All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go, so goes the famous John Denver song. But where to go? There may be more destinations to choose from now that borders all over the world are slowly being lifted and countries are opening up to international travelers.
Filipinos are just too eager to pack their bags to visit their favorite destinations after almost two years of non-travel.
My family and I recently took the bull by the horn, so to speak, and traveled to the No. 1 country with the most number of COVID-19 cases – the United States, to practice what we have been told over and over again: “COVID is here to stay so learn to live with it.”
Here are five important things you need to know before you travel:
1. Find out if your country of destination is accepting Filipino travelers. The White House announced that vaccines will be required for international travelers coming into the United States starting Nov. 8, 2021. When we entered the US on Oct. 9, we were already fully-vaccinated and have registered online with the Center for Disease Control for passenger disclosure and attestation (https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/attachment-a-global-passenger-disclosure-and-attestation-2021-01-12-p.pdf); the Los Angeles Traveler Health Form (https://travel.lacity.org/) (check other cities for a similar health form); and Philippine Bureau of Immigration Declaration. Another online registration is needed with your airline, in our case, the Philippine Airlines, for the Passenger Profile and Health Declaration Form.
2. On the day of your departure, make sure that you have these documents with you:
· Your valid passport (check the validity date. It should be more than six months valid)
· Valid Visitor’s Visa issued by the country you are visiting
· Travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage
· Negative RT-PCR test result taken 72 hours before the flight
· Vaccination Certificate (VaxCert) issued by the Department of Health
· Vaccination passport or card
· Airline ticket
3. Airlines require the wearing of face mask and face shield (for PH carriers) at all times except when you are eating. Outbound carriers, especially our flag-carrier PAL, require strict adherence to this rule. So be prepared to sleep and travel during long haul flights with your masks on. Ideally, face masks should be changed every three hours. And double mask as much as possible.
4. Returning Filipino travelers must scan a QR Code that will generate for them the One Health Pass of the Department of Health (onehealthpass.com.ph). This is very important as it will serve as your ID from arrival, to transfer to your quarantine hotel, RT-PCR testing on the fifth day of your hotel stay, until the completion of your mandatory home quarantine for another five days. Take another swab test on the 5thday of your home quarantine and seek clearance from your family physician before going back to work.
5. Be prepared for long lines at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Before disembarking from our aircraft, a Coast Guard personnel boarded the plane, and using the public address system, walked us through the procedures that we have to go through.
The One Health Pass QR Code will be scanned for a total of three times during the procedure. You will go through three steps where the QR Code will be required – QR verification, hotel booking, and transfer.
If your flight arrived a few minutes apart from other flights, then be prepared for more than two hours of waiting in line. Once the three steps are completed at the gates, the next stop will be immigration, then luggage pickup at the carousel. The One Health Pass QR Code will again be scanned before leaving the arrival area.
From the airport, hotel shuttle service will whisk you off directly to your quarantine facility. Be mentally prepared to endure being cooped up in a hotel room where you will be banned from going out, from opening the windows and door. A violation will give you 14 more days of quarantine. So be prepared. Be very prepared.
Grocery items may be sent to you by your family. Netflix helps. Soak up on the sunshine. But most of all, pray. A negative RT-PCR test result is the only negative thing that is welcome while under quarantine.