[ad_1]
MANILA, Philippines – Filipinos returning from countries classified as low to medium prevalence of COVID-19 are no longer required to undergo coronavirus testing, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.
In an online media forum, Undersecretary of Health Maria Rosario Vergeire said Filipinos returning from low-risk countries will not be required to undergo testing at points of entry, as long as they strictly follow minimum health standards and pass the symptom screening test.
He noted that the identification of low to medium prevalence countries will be based on the weekly World Health Organization (WHO) ranking.
The health official explained that the measure aims to “streamline protocols,” as returning Filipinos are being screened several times before they can enter their home provinces.
“Our experts agreed and are saying that all people who come especially from those areas that really do not have such transmission, this is low to medium prevalence, the probability that this individual has this certain disease is small, said Vergeire.
(Our experts agreed and are saying that all people who come from those areas that do not have much transmission of the disease or those with low to medium prevalence, the probability that this individual has the disease is small).
“Because before they left their areas they were tested. Most of these OFWs (Filipino workers abroad) bring their RT-PCR results with them, which are two or three days before the trip ”, he added.
(Because before leaving their home countries they were tested. Most of these OFWs bring their RT-PCR results with them, which are two or three days before the trip).
He further said: “When they get here, experts recommend that we do a symptom check. When it clears them up, when they have no symptoms even in the last 14 days, they can be allowed to return to their provinces ”.
However, the Health official emphasized that returnees must comply with what local governments require of them to enter their provinces.
He also noted that the decision is not related to the current problem between the Philippine Red Cross and PhilHealth.
The Red Cross stopped its coronavirus testing services that are run by PhilHealth due to the latter’s failure to settle its overdue balance of more than P930 million.
The humanitarian organization, which accounts for more than 25% of the country’s total coronavirus tests, is testing samples of returning OFW, those arriving at airports and seaports, those in mega swabbing facilities, and government workers and first-line health care.
EDV
For more news on the new coronavirus, click here.
What you need to know about the coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare leaders and still accepts cash donations to be deposited into the Banco de Oro (BDO) checking account # 007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link .
Read next
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer and more than 70 other titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download from 4am and share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
For comments, complaints or inquiries, please contact us.
[ad_2]
