The Philippines does not yet need to restrict those entering here from China, even though the number of severe cases of COVID-19 in that country has dropped, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
According to DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, the agency is confident that the current protocols in the Philippines are still sufficient to prevent the number of COVID patients here with severe symptoms from also kicking up.
He said the DOH’s surveillance and monitoring are intense in cases of COVID, including its variants and subvariants.
Travelers from other countries who are not fully vaccinated against COVID are also required to show a negative COVID test result.
Vergeire added that many Filipinos have a complete vaccine against COVID and continue to wear face masks, even though the policy regarding this has been relaxed.
“Sa ngayon, base sa pananaw ng Department of Health, kasama ng aming mga eksperto, hindi pa tayo napapanahon, o wala tayong nakikitang pangangailangan para magsara tayo ng borders specific to this country, o ‘di kaya ay magkaroon ng mas maigting na restrictions para sa bansang ito,” she said.
DOH: Restrictions on travelers from China not yet needed
“Nakita natin ang ibang bansa na pumutok ang kanilang mga kaso, libo-libo, hundreds of thousands, pero hindi naman natin sila sinarhan ng border. Hindi natin sinabing, “oh kayo, ‘pag dumating kayo, mayroon kayo dapat specific na restriction, dahil marami kayong kaso” so hindi natin gagawin ‘yun.”
“Ang gusto natin, mas makapagbukas tayo, pero syempre andyan pa rin ang strengthened surveillance natin… at saka kailangan, ‘pag pumasok dito, ay mayroon silang e-arrival card. Alam natin ‘yung kanilang pinanggalingan, at kung ano ‘yung vaccination status nila,” added Vergeire.
“Mayroon pa rin tayong requirement na antigen test ‘pag sila ay hindi bakunado kapag pumasok sa ating bansa. So that alone, sa tingin natin, kumpiyansa pa rin tayo sa ngayon, that we can adequately guard our borders through these kinds of policies that we have in the country,” the official said.
Earlier, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista recommended that the Philippines be more careful with travelers entering from China and that the IATF discuss possible restrictions on travel requirements for them.
This is after some countries, such as Japan and the United States, announced that they will require a negative COVID test for everyone entering their country from mainland China.
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