Gov’t told to waive 14-day quarantine for vaccinated tourists
A SENATOR wants the government to lift the 14-day quarantine rule for foreign travelers who have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
“Why do fully vaccinated people have to still do the two-week quarantine when traveling to the Philippines?” Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III told reporters in a Viber group message. “It doesn’t make sense. It defeats the purpose of vaccinating so we can open the economy.”
The lawmaker said vaccinated investors and even Filipinos overseas would not come to the Philippines because of the strict quarantine requirements.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire told an online briefing last month there is no guarantee that vaccinated people won’t get infected with the coronavirus
The Tourism department last month recommended that a green lane for vaccinated tourists bet set up.
The agency said it was studying protocols for the plan, noting that some countries have eased border restrictions and opened up major destinations to fully vaccinated foreign visitors.
The Bureau of Immigration has said more international flights might resume in the next few months. — VMMV