CORTES, Bohol, Feb 20 (PIA) – Beginning March 1, 2021, or 15 days short of a year after Bohol shut its doors down to keep corona virus disease out, Boholanos, whether locally stranded individuals, returning Overseas Filipinos and Workers, authorized persons outside residence and even local and foreign tourists can now get in and may be freed from quarantine.
The decision however hinges on the returning resident or entering individual’s observance of minimum health standards: wearing of face masks and face shields, and observing physical distancing at all times.Admitting that the decision to lift the quarantine requirements and making it as an exception rather than the general rule, Governor Arthur Yap added that the decision is made in line with Department of Health-7 memorandum dated February 16, recommending the guidance on testing protocols for Bohol for its safe opening of its tourism industry and its economy.
Through Executive Order No. 12, series of 2021, Gov Yap has lifted the quarantine requirements for returning residents like (LSI, ROFs, OFWs), APORs and government officials and non-APORs like local and international tourists, investors and businessmen, except for suspects and probable cases of Covid-19.
The governor has also amended the testing protocols for those coming in.
The new order said a negative Reverse Transcription- Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test results, when done 72 hours prior to flight to Bohol is only good for three days from arrival. Anyone who presented a negative RT PCR test result and wants to extend for more days here need to take a repeat RT-PCR here, or he can opt to take the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), and obtain a negative for COVID test result, to be allowed to move around freely.
For these people, they have to arrange for their own transport, and their Local Government Units (LGUs) are only tasked to monitor the returning resident or entering individuals for repeat testing after three- days upon arrival and mandatory quarantine, should they test positive in their opted RT-PCR or RAT.
Moreover, as to the EO 12, if testing is done upon arrival, anyone tested would be put in quarantine until a negative test result is released. In this case, local government units are responsible for the extraction of their returning residents (LSI, OFWs, ROFs0, APORs and non-APORS from the point or arrival and transport them to a government quarantine facility, or to a government-accredited private quarantine facility, until the release of their COVID test results showing negative for the virus, before they can be released.
Because the RT-PCR test is taken here, its results are valid for five days, and should the returning resident or APOR and local and foreign tourist wish to stay longer than that, they would be required to take another RT-PCR or RAT before they can be allowed to go out again.
Unlike the previous executive orders, this new one allows RAT for incoming returning residents, APORs and non-APORs, when the test is done 24 to 48 hours prior to confirmed flight, and the test result must be negative for COVID. Another RAT is necessary upon their arrival here, and a negative test result should show.
The negative RAT result in Bohol is valid for five days, and if the person intends to stay longer than five days, a repeat RAT test with a negative for COVID result is necessary.
In cases like these, the inbound person arranges for his transport, but the LGUs will monitor them for their repeat-testing schedules should they stay longer and place them in quarantine if they get positive or develop symptoms.
Because RAT is fast, if one is tested upon arrival, a negative for COVID result will allow him to proceed to his activities. But in the case of a positive for COVID in the RAT, the LGU extraction team will transport these people to the government quarantine facility or government accredited private quarantine facility where they will stay for three days and where they will get a repeat RAT on the fourth day.
Another test provided by the new EO is Saliva RT-PCR, as per Executive Order No. 9.
Bohol would honor a negative for COVID Saliva RT PCR test when it is assayed by an accredited and licensed molecular laboratory.
For this, Bohol is adopting and Integrated Health Information System Solution, which will list all accredited laboratories in the country, for reference.
As such, only those who develop symptoms anytime during their stay in Bohol and whose RT-PCR COVID tests yield positive results, the same 14-day quarantine at a government quarantine facility or government-accredited quarantine facility is implemented.
On the other hand, a 10-day quarantine on a government quarantine or government-accredited private quarantine facility, is set for those who show positive for COVID in the repeat RT-PCR, RAT or Saliva RT PCR results.
And even if they are positive, when they show no symptoms for three consecutive days, such individuals would be released and taken as clinically-recovered, without any repeat testing. (rahchiu/PIA-7/Bohol)
HOMING OR STAYING FOR 3 DAYS? Bored to the core in home quarantine and itching to travel again? Come home or come back to Bohol, and if you could show a negative for COVID in an RT-PCR, Rapid Antigen Test or Saliva RT-PCR taken 24 to 72 hours prior to travel to Bohol, you need not go to an isolation facility, says a new Executive Order from Bohol Governor Arthur Yap. (rahchiu/PIA-7/Bohol)
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