There are currently 14 countries placed under the red list starting from January 16 until January 31, 2022. However, there are important improvements when it comes to Filipinos entering the country. It is said that although these territories are under the red list, Filipino will still be allowed to enter the Philippines as long as they undergo the quarantine protocol. Also, they won’t be needing any “Bayanihan” flight to return to the country.
This announcement was made by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles amidst the spike in the number of COVID-19 cases. According to the Cabinet Secretary, these countries will be under the red list starting January 16;
Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Canada
Curacao
French Guiana
Iceland
Malta
Mayotte
Mozambique
Puerto Rico
Saudi Arabia
Somalia
Spain
US Virgin Islands
However, these countries are under the green list throughout the same period;
Bangladesh
Benin
Bhutan
British Virgin Islands
China
Côte d’Ivoire
Djibouti
Equatorial Guinea
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
The Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Japan
Kosovo
Kyrgyzstan
Montserrat
Morocco
Niger
Oman
Pakistan
Paraguay
Saba (Special Municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Saint Barthélemy
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Sint Eustatius
Taiwan
Timor-Leste
Uganda
Other countries that are not listed above all belong to the yellow list.
What are the new arrival protocols?
The COVID-19 task force set by the government has made several adjustments with the new arrival protocols. They have allowed Filipinos from the red list countries to return to the Philippines despite having their country of origin on the red list. They can also return to the country without the need to have Bayanihan flights as long as they undergo the right quarantine procedure.
Returning Filipinos will be asked to present a negative RT-PCR test which must be taken within 48 hours before their departure time. They also have to undergo the facility-based quarantine period and an RT-PCR will be taken on the seventh day.
However, for those foreign nationals with country’s of origin under the red list, Nograles clarified that they are still not allowed entry to the Philippines.
Meanwhile, those foreigners who are fully vaccinated and under the green list will not have to undergo the mandatory facility-based quarantine. They only have to self-monitor for any symptoms for the next 7 days. They also need to secure a negative RT-PCR test that needs to be taken 48 hours before their scheduled flight.
