MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang announced on Sunday that the country will temporarily suspend testing and quarantine protocols for countries or territories classified as “green” effective Nov. 28.
This announcement came after the Palace announced the country’s updated “red list,” or areas considered to be high-risk for COVID-19.
“The IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) likewise approved the temporary suspension of testing and quarantine protocols for countries/jurisdictions/territories classified as ‘Green’ effective immediately until December 15, 2021,” acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said in a statement.
Countries, territories, or foreign jurisdictions tagged “green” are considered low-risk for COVID-19.
On the other hand, passengers from ‘green’ countries who arrived prior to Nov. 28 may still follow quarantine protocols assigned to their country of origin upon the date of their arrival.
Meanwhile, the IATF also suspended Resolution No. 150-A, which allowed fully-vaxxed foreigners from green countries to enter the Philippines.
Currently, only 41 countries, territories, or foreign jurisdictions are included in the Philippines’ green list. These areas are:
- American Samoa
- Bhutan
- Chad
- China (Mainland)
- Comoros
- Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
- Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China)
- India
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Malawi
- Mali
- Marshall Islands
- Montserrat
- Morocco
- Niger
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Paraguay
- Rwanda
- Saint Barthelemy
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Sint Eustatius
- Sudan
- Taiwan
- Togo
- Uganda
- United Arab Emirates
- Zambia
South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe were earlier classified as “green” countries but were immediately included to the “red list” due to the B.1.1.1529 or the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
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Consequently, testing and quarantine protocols for all travelers coming from “yellow” list countries remain.