The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday, Jan. 8, clarified its guidelines for quarantine and isolation amid the rising number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country.

" would like to clarify that isolation and quarantine period for the general population has not changed," the DOH said in an advisory.

Based on its guidelines, individuals positive for COVID who are asymptomatic or have mild or moderate symptoms must isolate for 10 days or "at the advice of your doctor" regardless of vaccination status.

Meanwhile, patients who are severe and critically ill must isolate for 21 days "or at the advice” of their physicians, the DOH said.

The DOH defined isolation as "for people who have been infected and tested positive for COVID-19, with symptoms or none, both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated."

Meanwhile, those fully vaccinated individuals who have been exposed to a positive COVID-19 patient must quarantine for seven days or "at the advice of your doctor."

If the person is partially vaccinated or unvaccinated and comes in contact with a COVID-19 positive patient, then he must undergo 14 days quarantine "or at the advice" of a physician.

The DOH noted that quarantine is "for those who have been exposed and can possibly develop infection. People who become close contacts with confirmed cases of COVID-19 should quarantine."

Policy for healthcare workers

For fully vaccinated healthcare workers who are positive for COVID-19 but are asymptomatic, mild, or in moderate condition may isolate for five days, while their close contacts in hospitals are not required to undergo quarantine.

The DOH noted that isolation and quarantine period for healthcare workers "may be reduced---not automatically but subject to the careful assessment of the hospital's infection, prevention and control committee or the provincial health office."

"In other countries, even in CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), they even have protocols na kapag fully vaccinated ka (that if you are fully vaccinated), you can shorten your quarantine and your isolation and that is what we have adopted para hindi naman po masyadong mabawasan ang ating mga health care workers sa ating mga ospital (so that the number of health care workers in our hospitals will not be reduced that much)," explained DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

READ: IATF allows shortened period of quarantine for fully vaccinated health workers