No RT-PCR for kids 11 years

old below, traveling to Bohol

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Dec 4 (PIA)– As long as they are accompanied by fully vaccinated parents or guardians, kids 11 years old and below are now exempted from the discomfort of a nasopharyngeal swab for their previously mandated coronavirus disease test when they come to Bohol.

This is according to Executive Order No 52-B series of 2021, which the Governor Arthur Yap signed November 26, 2021.

The new EO is already an amendment to two previous Executive Orders, which lifted the mandatory requirement of a negative COVID test result through Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) assay for fully vaccinated individuals who are entering Bohol.

Previously Executive Order No 52 lifted the requirement of negative RT PCR test on fully vaccinated individuals upon its entry to Bohol instead of requiring them to present validadte and authenticalte vaccination certificate.

And then, due to the need for more clarifications on the issued mandate, the governor issued again Executive Order No. 52-A, series of 2021 and Executive Order No 52-B series of 2021 which further simplified the travel requirements to Bohol.

The said Executive Orders officially mandated that travelers to Bohol need to present their vaccination cards issued by their respective local government units , the Department of Health or their accredited medical institution, private company, foreign country or any state, province as long as these are authenticated by the DOH-Bureau of Quarantine.

Other than this, the two mentioned Executive Orders also mandates the presentation of a government-issued identification card and a valid s-Pass travel document, which may be pending or approved.

For the unvaccinated individuals, Executive Order 52-B says a negative test result by RT PCR taken 72 hours prior to travel is needed, and that children 4 years old and below are exempted from such requirement.

Earlier, the national Inter Agency Task Force on the management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, in its Resolution No 148-F, classified Bohol under Alert Level 2.

The IAFT did this, noting the drastic decrease in COVID-19 cases in Bohol in the past 2 months.

Along this and of the perception that COVID in Bohol is now relatively stable, and a response mechanism on the establishment and operationalization of Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities, the governor sees the need to further relax the travel protocols to Bohol to encourage travel and jumpstart the local economy.

With these premises, the governor issued the order to expand the exemption from RT PCR testing to now include children aged 11 years old and below, who enter Bohol accompanied by their respective fully vaccinated parents or guardians.

Provincial Tourism Council Chairman Atty Lucas Nunag believes the relaxed travel requirement could push more parents to get the vaccines as this can allow them to travel with their minors who now are excluded in the swab testing to gather samples for the RT-PCR tests.

Many BIATF members also believe that children 11 years old and below have very few chances of COVID contacts as they have been on strict home quarantine, despite that fact that they have strong immune systems. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

MOTIVATE PARENTS TO GET VACCINATED. Bohol has lifted the RT PCR requirement for 11 years old and below as long as these minors are accompanied by fully vaccinated adults. Many believe this will motivate vacationing families to have parents vaccinated for lesser travel hassles. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)