OFWs eye homecoming after COVID-19 travel restrictions lifted Published September 7, 2021 8:47pm Several overseas Filipino workers are excited to come home after the government lifted the COVID-19 travel restrictions on 10 countries on September 6. According to JP Soriano's report on "24 Oras" on Tuesday, Mark Graganza was supposed to return home in July after his contract as a cafe barista in Oman ended. However, due to the travel ban imposed as part of the measures to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus' Delta variant, he was not able to do so. The government lifted the ban on the following countries: India Pakistan Bangladesh Sri Lanka Nepal United Arab Emirates Oman Thailand Malaysia Indonesia The Inter-Agency Task Force earlier said fully vaccinated Filipino travelers from areas on the "Green list" would be subjected to a seven-day facility quarantine, with a COVID-19 test to be taken on the fifth day. International inbound travelers from areas on the "Yellow list", regardless of their vaccination status, shall undergo a 14-day quarantine upon arrival, with the first 10 days at a quarantine facility and the remaining four days under home quarantine. Meanwhile, inbound international travelers from areas on the Red list, regardless of their vaccination status, will not be allowed entry to the Philippines. However, Filipinos repatriated from such countries under a government-to-government arrangement and on Bayanihan flights will be allowed to enter the country subject to entry, testing, and quarantine protocols. The IATF has yet to place the 10 countries under the said lists. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/DVM, GMA News

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