Antigen test for Boracay visitors? Possible but not yet sure, mayor says

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

It was still a slow day for Boracay Island as it entered the second day since it reopened to tourists from areas under general community quarantine (GCQ).

As of Friday afternoon, only 25 tourists have arrived. Twelve of them flew in from Metro Manila while 13 are from other areas of the country.

The 25 are part of the 73 tourists who made bookings in the island.

Acting Mayor Frolibar Bautista of Malay, Aklan admitted that the requirement to present a negative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) result (which must not be more than 48 hours before the travel date) may have discouraged or impeded tourists from visiting the island.

“We have been receiving reports that some tourists have a hard time complying or getting their swab results within 48 hours. If they wanted results that fast, they have to pay an enormous amount. It’s very costly on their part,” he said.

Authorities are now exploring the possibility of requiring antigen test, which is a COVID-19 test that detects certain proteins in the virus using nasal or throat swab to get fluid sample.

Antigen tests are immunoassays that detect the presence of a specific viral antigen, which implies current viral infection.

“I think, maybe they are considering that since it’s being used in Baguio City. It has 86 percent accuracy,” Bautista said.

But despite the low turnout of tourists, Bautista said they would abide by whatever recommendations the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) impose.

“They know better. They would recommend for what’s good for Boracay,” he said.

With Boracay Island being COVID-free for several months, Bautista said he would maintain the gradual opening of the island to prevent infected persons from reaching the tourist destination.

For now, “Tiis-tiis muna ng kaunti pa,” he said

Only 35 of the 95 confirmed guests arrived in the island when it reopened on Oct 1.

When asked for the reason for the low turnout, Bautista said tourists are apprehensive that they might contract the virus.

But the main stumbling block could be the negative RT-PCR test result.

Aklanons are exempted from the requirement.

Even earlier, local government officials have foreseen that the strict requirements would result in a limited number of visitors.