The Bohol Inter Agency Task Force (B-IATF) spokesman advices that the requirement to subject locally stranded individuals (LSI) or overseas Filipino workers (OFW) to rapid antibody test (RAT) is no longer needed as long as the 14-day quarantine requirement is met and the one under quarantine is asymptomatic.
The new advisory was bared by Dr. Cesar Tomas Lopez, the B-IATF spokesman in a virtual presser on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020.
He said the Department of Health (DOH) gave the advisory that said that if an LSI or OFW has completed the quarantine, and without any symptoms, the RAT requirement is no longer needed.
Previously, majority of local government units (LGU) in Bohol subject LSI or OFW to RAT after 14 days of quarantine before they can be allowed to go home and be with their respective families.
Any LSI or OFW that tests positive for Immunoglobulin M (IgM) will not be permitted to go home, under the old directive.
With the new directive, a completion of the quarantine and an evaluation of a physician are enough to allow the LSI or OFW departure from the quarantine facility.
As of Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, there are about 17 active coronavirus disease (Covid) cases involving LSI, OFW and authorized person outside residence in Bohol.
Meanwhile, also on Wednesday, the provincial government released information that Gov. Arthur Yap signed Executive Order (EO) No. 46 extending the imposition of the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) in Bohol until Sept. 30, 2020.
The measure extends the provisions and stipulations of EO No. 33.
The minimum health standards remain in effect which includes social distancing, wearing of face masks in public, and prohibition on mass gatherings.
The curfew on senior citizens aged 65 years old and over and minors aged 18 years old and below remains in effect.
The general curfew from 9 pm to 5 am, is also being implemented, per EO No. 33 and extended by EO No. 46.
Businesses and other economic activities allowed in EO No. 33 will remain open subject to limitations.