Ilocos Sur eases travel rules for vaccinated folk

By Leilanie Adriano

LAOAG CITY – Persons who have been fully vaccinated do not need to be tested or quarantined if they travel to Ilocos Sur in less than 24 hours.
    Dr. Trina Talaga, chief of the Ilocos Sur Provincial Hospital, confirmed this in a radio interview Monday following a steady decrease of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the province.
    “For example, fully-vaccinated individuals who have pending appointments and are traveling in less than 24 hours outside the province are no longer required to present (Covid-19) test results,” she said.
    But before going out of the province, Talaga said they need to stop at the border checkpoint and secure a border pass, ensuring that they return in less than 24 hours to avoid unnecessary delay.
    For the non-vaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals who are traveling for essential purposes, Talaga said a border pass, identification card, and an endorsement for quarantine needs to be secured at the border checkpoint are necessary.
    Based on the updated new alert levels released by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), Ilocos Sur province has been placed under Alert Level 2 from November 13 to 30.
    The new alert level system is more relaxed with age mobility restrictions and provides some perks to fully vaccinated people.

Except in areas under granular lockdown, movement within and across cities or municipalities is allowed. -- PNA