MANILA - The Philippines has adopted stricter screening and surveillance activities in main gateways to guard against the importation of more coronavirus cases as the country continues to battle the pandemic.
The inter-agency task force (IATF) on pandemic response approved on Thursday the recommendations of the country's national task force on COVID-19--the implementing arm of virus restrictions--to strengthen screening protocols in the country's ports.
Under the latest IATF resolution, Subic and other ports of the country will serve as hubs for international crew change.
One-stop shops under the Department of Transportation should also be established in all gateways for the uniform processing of arrivals.
The IATF also supported the transportation department's efforts to hire more personnel for contract tracing and swabbing in ports of entry.
The World Health Organization earlier said the Philippines could improve more on its contact tracing efforts.
As of July 9, the Philippines has 51,754 confirmed COVID-19 cases. This includes 1,314 deaths and 12,813 recoveries.
The IATF also directed the transportation department, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and other attached agencies to issue the necessary guidelines for the implementation of inbound flight crew protocols mandated by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Read the full resolution below:
full resolution