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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Negros Occidental to impose COVID-19 swab test on fully vaxxed travelers

Negros Occidental to impose COVID-19 swab test on fully vaxxed travelers

Published Jan 7, 2022 02:46 pm

BACOLOD CITY — The provincial government of Negros Occidental will again require an RT-PCR test to all inbound travelers, regardless their vaccination status effective Jan. 9.

This is amid the Omicron threat, following the increase of COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson signed and issued Executive Order No. 21-61-A on Thursday, amending some provisions in the previous travel protocols, and imposing reasonable restrictions on air, sea, and land travel as a preventive health and safety protocol to curb the possible increase of COVID-19 cases in the province.

Lacson said that intrazonal and interzonal travel shall be allowed. However, travel to and from areas under Alert Level 3 and 4 shall be restricted and discouraged.

Based on the executive order, travelers, including fully vaccinated individuals should present a negative RT-PCR test result valid for 72 hours from date of swab sample extraction, and should have an approved S-Pass upon arrival in the province.

Previously, only partially and unvaccinated inbound travelers were required to submit a negative RT-PCR test result.

For air travel between area classified under Alert Level 3 status and the province, Manila to Bacolod and vice-versa flights were reverted to one flight per day per airline, while Cebu to Bacolod and vice-versa flights shall be limited to one flight per airline per week.

For sea travel between area classified under Alert Level 3 Status and the province, sea vessels shall be allowed to admit passengers up to 50 percent of its passenger capacity limit.

Prior to the imposition of the RT-PCR test on Jan. 9, Lacson directed the Provincial Health Office to conduct Rapid Antigen Testing for incoming passengers at airports and seaports in the province during the interim period from Jan. 7 to Jan. 9, 2022.

The executive order also stated the exception on government officials or personnel on official business, as they shall be allowed unimpeded travel to their place of destination, provided that they present a valid Identification card issued by their respective government agency, original copy of travel authority/order, and pass symptom screening at the port upon arrival.

Individuals with fake documents shall face criminal sanctions under existing laws and regulations, and shall be subjected to 14-day quarantine at the Provincial Healing Facility, and undergo RT-PCR test at their own expense on the fifth day from arrival.

The province is currently under Alert Level 2 status until Jan. 15, 2022.

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