The Department of Health (DOH) clarified that individuals who are asymptomatic are not contagious based on the definition of the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO initially stated that there are no hard evidences that prove the transmission of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) through an asymptomatic person. The study on the subject is still ongoing.
DOH said that symptomatic patients remain the most active spreader of COVID-19, one of the reasons why the department believes that individuals with no symptoms must not be tested.
“Meron po tayong tinatawag na pre-symptomatic individuals. Ito po ‘yung mga tao na maaaring meron na ho silang virus sa kanila at maaaring magkaroon ng sakit in how many days, mag-uumpisa na. At ito po ‘yung maaaring nakikita ng ating mga kababayan na nagpopositibo pagkatapos. (We have the so-called pre-symptomatic individuals who are possibly carrying the virus and will get sick in how many days. These may be seen by our citizens who would eventually turn out to be positive.)”
Usec. Vergeire added that the RT-PCR test kits can only detect the virus two days before the symptoms show. If an asymptomatic person will be tested, it might give a result of false negative.
Based on the DOH guidelines, the symptomatic, returning OFWs, close contacts of COVID-19 patients and those who tested positive in the rapid antibody test kits are the priority for the COVID-19 testing.
Report from Mark Fetalco
