In the wake of the Omicron variant danger, Ilocos Sur imposed mandatory quarantine and testing.

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — The threat of the COVID-19 Omicron strain has forced the provincial government of Ilocos Sur to reintroduce tight border regulations, including obligatory quarantine and testing, starting Jan. 10. Due to the recent increase in COVID-19 instances in the country, Gov. Ryan Luis Singson signed an executive order on Friday (Jan. 7) stating that existing travel protocols must be updated. According to Singson, "it is critical that the province government respond fast to protect its people against another surge." Regardless of vaccination status, those returning to the province from places with tighter Alert Levels 4 and 3 will be required to submit negative COVID-19 test results and will be quarantined. Those who had already been completely vaccinated against the disease would be subjected to a seven-day home quarantine. According to Singson, their residences must be "feasible [for home quarantine arrangements] and no member of the household is immunocompromised or unvaccinated." Those who are still unvaccinated or just partially vaccinated would face stricter restrictions, including a 14-day "facility quarantine." They would be needed to submit a negative RT-PCR test published within 72 hours prior to travel to the province if returning from places under Alert Level 4. Returning residents from Alert Level 3 would require a negative antigen test, which should be done 48 hours prior to departure to the province, according to Singson. Inbound fully vaccinated returning citizens from locations under Alert Level 2 do not need to be tested. If the person is unvaccinated, the same negative COVID-19 test results should be submitted, along with a 14-day quarantine period, according to Singson. According to Singson, unvaccinated APORs (authorized persons outside residents) from places with Alert Level 3 and 4 are absolutely forbidden from entering the province. To prevent the spread of the disease, Singson mandated that all indoor establishments check the vaccination status of all people visiting their premises.