Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). FILE PHOTO

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) said on Friday it has approved the use of an online platform “The OneHealthPass” for the health pass of international travelers.

“The use of the OneHealthPass shall start September 1, 2021 and for the duration of the state of national public health emergency,” IATF and presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

“The OneHealthPass is an online platform that aims to promote the convenient and seamless movement of international travelers from departure from the country of origin to arrival at the local government unit of destination,” Roque added.

Fully vaccinated travelers who had no close contact with COVID-19 patients can undergo a shorter 7-day quarantine, instead of 14 days, upon arriving to the country.

The Philippines is battling a spike in coronavirus infections linked to the highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant. The health department has logged some 1.9 million coronavirus cases and 32,000 deaths.

Yesterday, the country reported 17,447 new COVID-19 cases, the second highest daily tally since the pandemic started.

DOH, earlier, records the highest daily increase of 18,332 cases with the highly infectious Delta variant believed to be behind the fresh surge.