300 overseas Pinoys return with COVID-19 daily

MANILA, Philippines — About 300 Filipinos from abroad test positive for COVID-19 per day upon arrival in the country, the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) revealed yesterday.

In a public briefing, BOQ deputy director Roberto Salvador Jr. said this number accounts for 10 percent to 14 percent of the average of 3,000 overseas Filipinos arriving in the country daily.

Last Monday, the BOQ discharged 3,300 travelers who have completed their isolation in quarantine hotels.

“We started opening more isolation facilities where we can transfer those who turn positive while in (hotel) quarantine facility … for mandatory isolation,” Salvador said.

Based on Resolution No. 157 issued by Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) last Jan. 13, travelers from “Green List” countries who are fully vaccinated are required to present a negative RT-PCR test result taken within 48 hours prior to departure from the country of origin.

Upon arrival, they shall no longer be required to observe the mandatory facility-based quarantine, but they shall self-monitor for any sign or symptom of COVID-19 for seven days with the first day being the date of arrival.

For travelers coming from “Yellow List” countries, they shall have a negative RT-PCR result prior to departure from the country of origin and upon arrival in the Philippines, they shall undergo facility-based quarantine with an RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day from the date of arrival, which is Day 1.