IATF relaxes interzonal travel rules for fully vaccinated persons

MANILA, Philippines — The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has eased the rules on the interzonal travel of fully-vaccinated persons, including senior citizens.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that under IATF Resolution 124-B, interzonal travelers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are now only required to present proof of complete COVID-19 vaccination instead of COVID-19 test results.

According to IATF Resolution 124-B, an individual is only considered fully vaccinated two weeks after he received the second dose of the jab and if the vaccine administered is one of the vaccines given an emergency use authorization or a Compassionate Special Permit (CSP) by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration or is among those on the World Health Organization’s Emergency Use Listing.

The new rules on interzonal travel also apply to fully vaccinated senior citizens.

Interzonal travel refers to the movement between provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities under different community quarantine classifications.

According to the IATF, the presentation of a COVID-19 domestic vaccination card signed by a legitimate vaccinating establishment, or certificate of quarantine completion showing the holder’s vaccination status issued by the Bureau of Quarantine shall be sufficient alternatives to any testing requirement (before travel or upon arrival) which the local government of destination may require.

All travelers, however, are still required to undergo health and exposure screening protocols upon arrival at their destinations.

Meanwhile, intrazonal travel (or the movement of people, goods, and services between localities under the same community quarantine classification) will continue to be allowed for fully vaccinated senior citizens within areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ.

Source: https://bit.ly/3jEPz5z