OCTA proposes pre-departure COVID-19 test for travelers from China

The independent group OCTA Research said the government should require a pre-departure COVID-19 test for travellers from China, according to Lei Alviz’s “24 Oras” on Thursday.

OCTA Research fellow Guido David made the proposal as countries such as the United States and Japan have mandated the pre-departure tests amid the surge of infections.

“Mataas yung immune escape nitong mga subvariants na ito, so even if they are vaccinated they can still be carrying the virus even if they are not showing symptoms,” David said.

Under the current protocols, the passengers arriving in the country will not be subjected to COVID-19 test as long as they are fully vaccinated.

Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated passengers, on the other hand, must present COVID-19 negative test results, if none they will be subjected to COVID-19 test upon arrival.

David said the surge of COVID-19 cases in China is different from other countries because of the limited information on the COVID-19 situation there.

“We don’t know if there will be a new variant that will come from China. When we travel to a country like China, they will require tests from the traveler. So, it’s not unfair to ask for required test kasi other countries required kahit na vaccinated,” David said.

Infectious disease expert Rontgene Solante, however, said this is not needed yet.

“Sapat pa rin yung protocols natin kailangan lang natin makita at malalaman yung vaccination status ng visitors,” Solante said.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos earlier said any restriction to be implemented must be science-based.

In Nagcarlan, Laguna, passengers from China were required to undergo a rapid antigen test or RT-PCR test.

Those who will test positive for COVID-19 will be required to undergo quarantine and will be monitored by the barangay healthcare workers.

The provincial council of Palawan is also considering requiring a negative COVID-19 test result from passengers from China.

The local government said the passengers will still be monitored within five days despite having negative test results.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) said it is still coordinating with the Bureau of Quarantine on the contact tracing status of eight unvaccinated Filipinos who arrived in the Philippines from China, who tested positive for COVID-19.

The DOH said all samples were already sent for sequencing, while the results will be released next week.–Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA Integrated News