QC mayor questions DOH policy after patients sent home

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte expressed concern after 14 city residents with possible COVID-19 symptoms were sent home from hospitals, reportedly following Department of Health (DOH) guidelines.

Dr. Rolando Cruz, head of the Quezon City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, clarified that DOH Memorandum 2020-0108 advises sending home Persons Under Investigation (PUIs) and positive COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms and no co-morbidities, provided they are not elderly.

Of the 14 patients, four resided in urban poor communities, with one requiring weekly dialysis due to kidney disease.

Mayor Belmonte highlighted concerns about potential disease transmission given the living conditions of some residents and the ease with which the virus can spread.

Upon checking, Dr. Cruz noted that these patients were not practicing social distancing at home and were interacting with families without face masks, which he described as dangerous.

To contain further spread, Dr. Cruz urged the public to coordinate with the city government for isolation, especially for those in urban poor communities, stating that the pandemic will worsen if this continues.

In response, the local government is implementing Extreme Enhanced Community Quarantine on the residences of positive patients sent home, ensuring strict monitoring and assistance.

Quezon City has also identified facilities like HOPE-1 to accommodate positive patients who cannot self-quarantine due to their living situations.