By Ma. Teresa Montemayor | Philippine News Agency
The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday (Jan. 7) released a set of home quarantine guidelines for individuals who have been infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to keep hospitals from being congested as new infections continue to rise.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, in a Palace briefing, said individuals infected with COVID-19 and have symptoms may undergo home quarantine if they have their own room and bathroom with proper ventilation and have oversight or medical supervision.
She noted that all household members of COVID-positive individuals are considered close contacts and may also undergo home quarantine if they are asymptomatic, are not members of the vulnerable population, and are not mixed with positive and symptomatic individuals.
She added they must observe minimum public health standards – proper wearing of masks, social distancing, and proper hand washing.
“Para naman po sa mga indibidwal na nag-a-isolate at nakakaranas ng mild to moderate symptoms, i-maximize ang paggamit ng telemedicine services. Iwas transmission at iwas sana rin ito sa pagpuno ng ating mga ospital,” she said.
Citing the guidelines, Vergeire emphasized asymptomatic individuals or those who have mild to moderate symptoms must be isolated for 10 days or at the advice of their doctor regardless of vaccination status.
Meantime, severe and critical patients must be isolated for 21 days or at the advice of their doctor.
“(The) government has shortened the isolation period of fully vaccinated medical front-liners in consideration of hospitals’ capacity,” Vergeire said.
Healthcare workers who are asymptomatic or have mild to moderate symptoms must isolate for five days while their close contacts are not required to quarantine. (PNA) -rir
