(UPDATED) Despite the easing of domestic travel restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals, the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday, July 7, 2021, stressed that local government units (LGUs) may still ask fully vaccinated travelers to present a negative swab test result as entry requirement.
DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III issued the clarification after some LGUs expressed concern over the relaxed domestic travel protocols that allow fully vaccinated individuals to present their vaccination cards in lieu of a swab test result.
Duque cited a previous resolution approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, which allows LGUs to require travelers to undergo reverse transmission polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for the virus.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Secretary was referring to Resolution 101, which was approved on February 26, 2021 and remains in effect.
"While the IATF has said that vaccination cards may be used in lieu of the testing requirements, as we iron out operational concerns, IATF Resolution 101 remains in effect. This means that the LGU can still require testing as a requirement for entry," Vergeire said.
"Status quo kasi may (because there's an) appeal. 'Yan naman ang process natin," she added.
Vergeire said the IATF, which is the policy-making body for the government's Covid-19 response, recognized the concerns of some LGUs and will "iron out the operational concerns" over its latest resolution in their meeting on Thursday, July 8.
"In any case, what remains is the flexibility of the LGUs to implement testing and quarantine protocols for interzonal travel," she added.
Under IATF Resolution 124-B, fully vaccinated travelers may simply present a vaccination card as "alternative to any testing requirement (before travel or upon arrival) which the local government unit of destination may require."
The resolution, however, requires the traveler, including fully vaccinated senior citizens, to undergo health and exposure screening upon arrival in the LGU of destination.
An individual is considered fully vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) at least two weeks after receiving the second dose of a two-dose vaccine or a single-dose vaccine.
Some LGUs expressed concern over the easing of entry requirements in light of the threat posed by the highly transmissible variants of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
Pending the result of the IATF meeting on Thursday, DOH officials said LGUs that deem the vaccination card as sufficient entry requirement may forego the swab test requirement while those that raised concerns over the relaxation of travel restrictions may continue to require a negative swab test result.
The LGUs that raised concern over the new protocols were not identified.
Vergeire reiterated that more than the testing requirement, there is a need to put in place a robust symptom and exposure screening protocol/system complemented by contact tracing.
She said fully vaccinated individuals can still get infected and may still infect others.
"Precisely why we have always said that we need to practice MPHS even after getting the full dose," she said. MPHS refers to minimum public health standards which include wearing of face masks and face shields, and physical distancing.
Vergeire encouraged those who have received their first dose to return for the second dose as scheduled or, if unable to follow the schedule, as soon as possible after their schedule.
"Fully vaccinated individuals are seen to have lower viral loads and less likely to develop symptoms when infected with Covid-19. With these factors in place, they are also less likely to infect other people," she said. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)