The local Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) is again lifting the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) requirement for fully vaccinated inbound travelers effective February 16.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, the local IATF-EID chairperson, said in a statement Saturday the inbound travelers need to present their vaccination card and Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage (S-Pass) permit in place of the RT-PCR requirement upon entry in any of the city’s borders.

“An individual is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the second dose for two-dose vaccines, and single-dose Janssen vaccine,” Salazar said.

She, however, said fully vaccinated travelers coming in from areas with higher alert level status are required to present negative antigen test results.

The antigen test result should be secured from a laboratory accredited by the Department of Health within 24 hours from the time of collection of specimen and presented together with the S-pass permit.

Unvaccinated travelers must submit negative RT-PCR test results taken from the place of origin within five days from specimen collection, along with the S-pass permit, Climaco-Salazar said.

The local IATF-EID has imposed the negative RT-PCR or the rapid antigen requirement for all inbound travelers starting January 16 after this city was placed under Alert Level 3.

The Sunday vaccine bubble will continue to be implemented as an incentive for fully vaccinated individuals.

All establishments with fully vaccinated employees may open to the general public catering to fully vaccinated individuals, who shall present their authentic vaccination cards before they are allowed entry into the establishment. (PNA)