No need for gov’t workers on ofc’l biz to take Covid test: Palace

MANILA – Government workers who will travel for official business no longer need to undergo coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) testing, Malacañang said on Friday.

The new rule was approved during the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases’ (IATF-EID) meeting on Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

“These public officials and government personnel shall not be required to undergo mandatory testing and/or quarantine protocols of the local government units of their destination,” Roque, also acting as IATF-EID spokesperson, said in a statement.

He said the directive was made to ensure the “unimpeded travel” of government officials and personnel on official business, including employees of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation, to their place of destination.

However, government officials and personnel are still required to present valid identification cards issued by their respective government agency and an original or a certified true copy of the travel authority issued by the department secretary or the designated official, Roque said.

He said they should also observe strict minimum health standards to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the country.

“They must likewise pass symptom screening at the port of their arrival, or in the case of public transport, upon boarding; and they must strictly comply with the minimum public health standards,” he said.

Meanwhile, the IATF-EID also approved Baguio City’s request to allow leisure travelers to stay in hotels while the city is placed under the general community quarantine (GCQ), Roque said.

“The IATF likewise granted the request of Baguio City for its hotels and other accommodation establishments to accommodate leisure travelers while under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) classification,” he said.

Roque said leisure travelers would be subject to “strict health protocols and contact tracing measures.”

The government has eased the quarantine measures in the country to revive the economy amid the Covid-19 pandemic.