The government will soon implement a strict no home quarantine policy, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said on Tuesday.
In an interview with CNN Philippines, Año said the National Task Force against COVID-19 has already started discussions on the policy which will no longer allow home quarantine for mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients.
“Nag simula na kami mag usap sa National Task Force last night. Titingnan namin kung pwede na ma implement this week (We at the National Task Force have started discussions about the policy last night and we’ll see if we can implement it within the week),” Año said.
Año said the “no home quarantine policy” will be for the “good and sake of family members” of COVID-19 patients.
“Meron naman tayong mga COVID hotels na kung saan pwede sila mag-isolate. Importante kasi talaga na mailabas sila sa bahay kasi nakahahawa sa pamilya (We have COVID hotels where they can isolate themselves. It’s important that we take these patients out of their homes to avoid infecting other family members),” Año said.
“Ang talagang pinakamaganda ay lahat ma isolate natin, rich or poor (It will really be best if we are able to isolate everyone, whether rich or poor)," Año said.
The DILG chief, meanwhile, said there will still be exemptions to the rule.
“For example, iyong isang very elderly na talagang mahirap ilagay sa isolation facility, pero well-to-do at kaya naman so yung mga ganong exemptions, (For example, an elderly who will be difficult to transfer to an isolation facility, but is well-to-do and can be quarantined in his or her own home, that can be an exemption),” Año said.
Año said the Department of Health (DOH) and City Regional Surveillance Units (CESU) will inspect those who will seek exemptions.
“We have to enforce strictly the no home quarantine at sabi ko nga kung kailangan ng exemptions (and like what I said, if there's a need for exemptions) we will be considerate,” Año said.
The DILG chief said once the policy is approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, it will be transformed into a Joint Memorandum Circular between the DOH and the DILG.