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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Reduced isolation period amid spike of infections is a 'counterintuitive move' --- expert

Reduced isolation period amid spike of infections is a 'counterintuitive move' --- expert

Published Jan 13, 2022 06:56 pm

The reduced isolation period is not advisable for the Philippines at this moment, said a public health expert on Thursday, Jan. 13.

Photo from Tony Leachon’s Facebook page / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN

In a Facebook post, public health expert and former National Task Force (NTF) against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) special adviser Dr. Anthony “Tony” Leachon said the Department of Health’s (DOH) decision to shorten the isolation period of fully vaccinated individuals and health workers who tested positive for COVID-19 is a “counterintuitive” move.

“There are are unknown variables about Omicron, and there is still a lot of Delta cases around. Delta has very high viral loads and it may take more than five days to become non-infectious,” said Leachon.

He likewise underscored that the reduced isolation period is not advisable for the country amid the increasing number of infections because the health workers are now “overworked and overburdened.”

DOH previously announced that the isolation of fully vaccinated individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 – may they be symptomatic, asymptomatic, or exhibiting mild symptoms, had been reduced to seven days from the onset of symptoms.

Meanwhile, the DOH said that hospitals can shorten the isolation of fully vaccinated healthcare workers with boosters to five days upon careful assessment of benefits and risks.

“ government and our scientific experts will never recommend a policy shift na magkakaroon ng harm ang ating mga kababayan at ating mga health workers. Ito po ay masusing pinag aralan at ipinapatupad din sa ibang bansa (The government and our scientific experts will never recommend a policy shift that will harm the public and our health workers. This has been thoroughly studied and implemented in other countries),” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in an interview over DZBB.

Related Tags

DELTA VARIANT COVID-19 covid-19 pandemic ISOLATION PERIOD Dr. Tony Leachon OMICRON VARIANT
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