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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Early Christmas present: Shorter quarantine days for 'balikbayans' starting Nov. 22

Early Christmas present: Shorter quarantine days for 'balikbayans' starting Nov. 22

Published Nov 19, 2021 01:38 pm

In time for the Christmas season, the government has further cut the quarantine period for fully vaccinated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who will return to the Philippines including those arriving from countries under the “yellow list,” the Department of Tourism (DOT) confirmed Friday, Nov. 19.

(Jansen Romero/MANILA BULLETIN File Photo)

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat welcomed the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to cut the required hotel quarantine days of "balikbayans" from five days to just three days starting Nov. 22.

“This latest development will greatly contribute to the on-going recovery of the tourism sector this holiday season while also providing more time to those who want to return home to be with their loved ones in the Philippines,” Puyat said.

According to Puyat, fully vaccinated OFWs from “yellow countries” with pre-departure testing within 72 hours shall be required to undergo a three-day facility-based quarantine with testing on the third day but are enjoined to complete self-monitoring up to the 14th day from arrival.

However, those without pre-departure testing will be subjected to a facility-based quarantine until the release of the RT-PCR test results taken on the fifth day.

With a negative result, the individual will be released for home quarantine until the 10th day.

Unvaccinated visitors, meanwhile, shall undergo facility-based quarantine with testing on the seventh day, to be followed by home quarantine up to 14th day upon the release of a negative test result.

The DOT has been pushing for shorter quarantine days for arriving OFWs which means less expenses for them and more time spent with their loved ones.

Related Tags

balikbayan shorter quarantine Department of Tourism (DOT) overseas Filipino workers returning OFWs quarantine days
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