Tag: RT-PCR

Filipinos from abroad who “recently recovered” from Covid can enter PHL even with positive RT-PCR test results

Medical certificate stating passenger is no longer infectious needed, says Palace   (Eagle News) – Internationally arriving Filipino travelers who recently recovered from Covid-19 but still tested positive in RT-PCR pre-departure tests could now enter the Philippines, according to Malacanang on Monday, January 31. What a traveler or passenger has to present is a “medical certificate issued by a licensed physician stating that the traveler has completed the mandatory isolation period, and is no longer […]

Palace says 14 territories including Canada, Saudi Arabia under Red List; allows inbound travel with conditions

Travelers from red-listed countries can enter PHL upon negative RT-PCR within 48 hours from leaving their country, and strict quarantine, testing protocols Bares latest country-risk classifications from January 16 to 31, 2022 (Eagle News) – Malacanang announced the latest country risk classification that would take effect from January 16 to 31, 2022 where 14 countries and territories including Canada, Saudi Arabia and Spain had been placed under the Red List. The Palace also announced that […]

PHL Red Cross holds pilot testing on saliva test for COVID-19; presses DOH to allow its use

(Eagle News) – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) once again pressed the Department of Health to allow RT-PCR tests for COVID-19 through use of saliva samples, instead of the usual nasopharyngeal swabs, as its officials demonstrated how this was easier, more convenient, less invasive and cheaper. In a pilot test, PRC chair Senator Richard Gordon showed how it is easier to get saliva samples for RT-PCR tests. Only one milliliter of saliva is needed for […]

Dizon presses DOH on validation of saliva tests as alternative to swab tests for COVID-19

  (Eagle News) – The country’s COVID-19 testing czar Vince Dizon is hoping that the Department of Health would soon release guidelines regarding saliva tests as an alternative to RT-PCR tests or swab tests in determining if the person has the virus, SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. Dizon said that the DOH is still in the process of validating this saliva test as an alternative to swab tests. He also said that the Philippine Red Cross […]

Pres. Duterte presses for free COVID-19 tests for the public; says gov’t should shoulder costs

Tasks DOH Sec. Duque to find ways to achieve this by next year   (Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte said he would be looking for ways to lower the prices of COVID-19 tests, including swab tests or RT-PCR tests, to make it more affordable. He is even thinking of having government shoulder the swab tests so that the public, especially the poor and marginalized, do not have to pay for these. President Duterte even […]

Coast Guard crafts masterlist of overseas Filipinos with negative COVID-19 tests

  (Eagle News) – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday, May 28, created a masterlist of overseas Filipinos who tested negative for COVID-19. In a statement, the PCG said that the list contains the names of 36,832 overseas Filipino workers, Filipino seafarers, and returning Filipinos who yielded negative result in the RT-PCR test conducted by the Sub-Task Group for the Repatriation of OFWs. According to the PCG, the list consolidates the names of overseas […]