By ARGYLL CYRUS B. GEDUCOS
Malacañang explained that the government’s pandemic task force removed the isolation areas in air carriers during domestic flights because of improved health protocols that would ensure the safety of everyone in the flight.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases removed the requirement for air carriers to reserve a portion of the aircraft cabin as an isolation area for suspected or ill passengers on board as part of the COVID-19 health protocols for domestic flights.
In a statement, Roque said that the IATF made the decision because airlines and airports already have improved health protocols like pre-boarding testing requirements whether RT-PCR or antigen tests to detect cases of COVID-19.
“The IATF decision is based on the grounds that guidelines were issued based on available information at the time, and that more information is now available on how COVID-19 is transmitted in closed settings,” he said.
“Also, there are now more improved health protocols from boarding to landing to use of High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters,” he added.
Roque likewise pointed out that domestic flights generally do not exceed 1.5 hours.
According to Roque, the removal of isolation areas in air carriers is not against any international guidelines that aim to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Per the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), the removal of this requirement will not contravene World Health Organization and International Civil Aviation Organization guidelines and protocols,” he said.
The Palace official said that the IATF approved the removal of such requirement upon the recommendation of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and CAAP with the concurrence of the Department of Health.
The DOTr is to issue the necessary amendatory guidelines.
