The Department of Health (DOH) has updated its recommended guidelines on the shortened quarantine period for the general public, including fully vaccinated positive individuals and close contacts.
Based on the proposal, fully vaccinated individuals positive for COVID-19 who are asymptomatic or experience mild symptoms will have shortened isolation from 10 days to seven days.
“The viral RNA from respiratory samples was highest on 3 to 6 days after diagnosis or symptoms onset and samples were then observed to have a marked decrease after 10 days since diagnosis or symptom onset,” DOH USec. Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
“Findings also show that vaccinated asymptomatic and mild cases are unlikely to shed infectious virus 10 days after the diagnosis or symptom onset,” she added.
However, those with moderate symptoms will continue to isolate for 10 days, and those with severe symptoms will still quarantine for 21 days for both the general public and healthcare workers.
Fully vaccinated close contacts will likewise have shortened quarantine of five days from the original protocol of seven days.
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the country’s COVID-19 response has yet to approve the recommendations.
“The updated recommendations was deemed necessary, because first, the differences in guidelines for quarantine and isolation of travelers, the general public, and specific sectors like healthcare workers have been causing confusion on the ground,” Vergeire said.
Meanwhile, the RT-PCR testing for asymptomatic close contacts among the general public will be optional.
The DOH has recommended that RT-PCR testing be conducted on A1, A3, and A3 categories, and that priority will be focused on isolation and symptoms monitoring for the general public. – Report from Mark Fetalco/AG- bny
