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Facility-based quarantine no longer required for fully vaccinated travelers, returning Filipinos starting February 1

The Philippines is suspending the COVID-19 risk classification for incoming travelers beginning February 1, acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said on Friday.

The removal of the red, yellow, green list classification means there will be no distinction regardless if a traveler arrived from a country that is high, moderate, or low risk for COVID-19 transmission.

There will instead be different requirements for arriving passengers based on their vaccination status.

Fully vaccinated travelers are no longer required to undergo facility-based quarantine. They only have to monitor themselves for symptoms at home for 7 days.

Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated travelers have to undergo facility-based quarantine until they get a negative test result taken on the 5th day, then complete their 14-day quarantine at home.

Outbound travelers, regardless of vaccination status, must present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours before their departure.

Nograles said this will be the quarantine and testing protocol in place until a new variant of concern emerges.

Meanwhile, the Philippines will once again accept fully vaccinated foreign tourists from non-visa required countries starting Feb. 10.