The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has approved the implementation of quarantine protocols for workers in the aviation sector.
The quarantine rules for the particular set of workers are spelled out in IATF Resolution No. 157, details of which were shared on Friday, Jan. 14 by Cabinet Secretary and Acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles.
Nograles said those covered by the resolution include but are not limited to airline personnel, ground handlers, maintenance providers, airport security, air traffic controllers, airport workers, and other aviation-related personnel.
As approved by the pandemic task force, an isolation period "for up to five days" shall be imposed on individuals with mild and asymptomatic confirmed coronovirus disease (COVID-19) cases who are fully vaccinated and boosted.
As for asymptomatic close contacts of the confirmed COVID-19 cases, they will not be required to undergo quarantine if they've already received their primary series vaccine doses and booster shot.
"Ganun din po ang mga closed contacts na wala namang pinapakitang (It's the same case for the closed contacts who didn't show) symptoms who recovered from COVID-19 within the last 90 days," added Nograles, the spokesperson of IATF.
He further said that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and its attached agencies "shall identify the appropriate accountable group to make decisions for shortening isolation or quarantine based on evidence, similar to hospital infection prevention and control wherein infectious disease specialists, safety officers, and management deliberate, monitor, and act on all infection-related concerns of the health facility".
As an additional rule indicated in the resolution, Nograles said that "all aircrafts shall ensure appropriate ventilation and all aviation staff should wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times".
The quarantine protocols for aviation sector workers were announced alongside the updated red, yellow, and green list classifications of IATF as far as other countries are concerned.