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MANILA, Philippines – The government’s COVID-19 task force has permitted the use of antigen testing as a pre-boarding requirement for asymptomatic domestic travelers.
Antigen testing could replace gold standard real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing, spokesman for the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases, Harry Roque, said Tuesday.
“The IATF allowed the use of antigen testing as a substitute for RT-PCR when used as a pre-boarding requirement for asymptomatic domestic tourists prior to departure and travel to tourist destinations or as a requirement upon entering the destination if It is in accordance with the protocols of the local government unit, ”Roque said in a statement.
IATF Co-Chair Karlo Nograles previously said that they are studying the use of antigen tests to detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 to further increase the country’s testing capacity.
According to the Department of Health, antigen testing uses nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swabs for specimen collection, but uses laboratory or healthcare settings to validate results.
If the antigen tests show positive results, it means that there is a “presumptive COVID-19”, but if it is negative, it means that it is unlikely that COVID-19.
READ: Government studies to use antigen test kits to detect tourists for COVID-19
The new IATF directive comes as selected areas in northern Luzon are looking to reopen their doors to local tourists coming from areas with low COVID-19 cases.
JE
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