OFWs from low-risk countries may skip COVID-19 testing

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health is looking into allowing returned overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from countries with low prevalence of COVID-19 to just quarantine for 14 days upon arrival instead of getting an RT-PCR test, according to Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

Vergeire said this might be done if an RT-PCR test was not accessible.

This option is being considered after the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) halted its COVID-19 tests due to delayed payments from Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

PhilHealth owes the PRC some P930 million. Vergeire said the PhilHealth and PRC were currently working to resolve the issue.

—Leila B. Salaverria