Bohol Lifts Five-day Quarantine and Repeat Swab Test Requirements

The mandatory five-day quarantine and repeat swab test are no longer required for inbound travelers in Bohol—including returning residents—starting September 8. [1] Despite the eased restrictions, travelers are still required to present a negative result of their reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or RT-PCR test. Governor Arthur Yap declared that it should be taken 72 hours per departure and given upon arrival in the province. The Bohol governor issued this through Executive No. 44 series of 2021. [2]

Recalling last September 1, when Yap lifted the suspension of the sea and air travel to Bohol, all travelers, returning residents or not, were required to be quarantined upon arrival for five days in a quarantine facility approved by the local government of Bohol. [3] Inbound travelers were required to undergo a swab test or an RT-PCR test again on the fifth day of the quarantine period. If the test result is negative, they are allowed to be released. If the test results otherwise, they will remain quarantined and will be only allowed to go if they bring forth a negative result.

On the governor’s EO, which took effect on September 7, Yap also ordered for travelers to coordinate with their local governments to get a hold of their Safe Swift or Smart Passage or, for short, the S-PaSS. The S-PaSS serves as the travel management system for local travelers who are returning or visiting the Bohol province. [4] The S-PaSS system was made by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Yap finalized this change of Bohol protocols following a series of meetings with stakeholders, the medical industry, the tourism industry, and executives. Yap also shared that data shows an almost zero to low positivity rate of COVID-19 infections from incoming travelers. The slight ease of travel requirements is beneficial for travelers who wish to visit Bohol’s tourist attractions and enjoy their leisure trips in the province.

As per recent news reports, Bohol has tallied 15,572 confirmed cases with 13,072 recoveries since the pandemic outbreak last 2020. As per the Department of Health (DOH), three thousand five hundred sixty-three (3,563) active COVID-19 cases are recorded as of September 13.

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