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7 months ago | Nation | 0 comments

By Xai Reyes

Antigen tests will be used to screen local air travelers for COVID-19, Malacañang said Tuesday as the Philippines kept relaxed virus restrictions in place for most parts of the country.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said antigen tests would be used as a substitute for real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests as a pre-boarding requirement for asymptomatic domestic tourists.

Antigen tests are a type of diagnostic test designed for the rapid detection of coronavirus. Unlike the RT-PCR tests, antigen tests may not detect all active infections.

Roque said the antigen tests might also be required upon entry at the place of destination in the Philippines, depending on protocols of local government units.

The government, however, emphasized that RT-PCR tests remain as the “gold standard” for COVID-19 testing in the Philippines.