The government has shortened the isolation and quarantine period for aviation personnel sick with COVID-19 and who are asymptomatic close contacts of a coronavirus-hit person but already fully vaccinated and “boosted,” Malacañang said Friday 14 Jan.

 

Under Resolution No. 157, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases approved a shortened isolation period for fully vaccinated and “boosted” COVID- positive aviation personnel, who are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said in a Palace briefing.

 

Scrapping of quarantine requirement for fully vaccinated and ‘boosted’

 

The task force also scrapped the quarantine requirement for fully vaccinated and “boosted” aviation personnel, who are asymptomatic close contacts of COVID-19 cases, he added.

 

These protocols for the aviation sector cover airline personnel, ground handlers, maintenance providers, airport security, air traffic controllers, airport workers, and other aviation-related personnel, Nograles noted.

 

Specifically, the IATF approved the following protocols for aviation personnel:

 

·         Isolation for up to five (5) days for mild and asymptomatic confirmed COVID-19 cases who are fully vaccinated and boosted

·         Quarantine of up to zero (0) day for asymptomatic close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases who have received primary series vaccine doses and booster, or asymptomatic close contacts who recovered from COVID-19 within the last 90 days

 

The IATF then reminded that it retains authority to revoke or modify the “privilege provided to the aviation industry for shortened quarantine and isolation.”