The Department of Health (DOH) said that home quarantine is still allowed for mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients provided that guidelines are strictly followed.
"We did not change our protocol, we still allow home quarantine provided that people who will do the quarantine can satisfy the conditions," said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in a recent press briefing.
“They have their own room, they have their own toilet, wala pong vulnerable populations sa kanilang bahay at mamomonitor po sila ng maayos nang Barangay Health Emergency Response Team ,” she added.
The Health official said that home quarantine is not the “sole basis” of community transmission of COVID-19.
"We have noted that home quarantine is among those that have contributed...Marami ho ang nagsasabi na ito po ay malaki ang naging contribution ," said Vergeire.
“Pero meron pa rin ibang factors bakit meron tayong community transmission hindi lang naman po iyon ,” she added.
To note, National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 Chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said that home quarantine is among the factors that they observed for the widespread community transmission of COVID-19 in Metro Manila and other areas of the country.
“Naninindigan po tayo sa ating paniniwalang hindi makakabuti ang home quarantine sa karamihan ng mga pasyente, especially for mild or asymptomatic cases ,” said Galvez.
The NTF chief also added that “the longer a COVID-19 patient stays in his home, the greater the chances that he or she will infect others.”