DOH updates home quarantine rules for COVID-19 patients

The DOH released guidelines on Friday for individuals infected with COVID-19 to undergo home quarantine if they have their own room, bathroom, proper ventilation, and medical supervision.

Household members of positive cases who are asymptomatic and not part of the vulnerable population may also opt for home quarantine to prevent overwhelming healthcare facilities, as noted by Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

Vergeire emphasized that individuals with mild to moderate symptoms should maximize telemedicine services during their isolation period which is 10 days or at the advice of a doctor regardless of vaccination status.

Severe and critical patients must isolate for 21 days or as advised by their physician, while fully vaccinated medical front-liners who are asymptomatic or have mild to moderate symptoms need only isolate for five days according to the updated guidelines.

The DOH and DILG continue to urge the public to avoid panic buying of medicines like paracetamol and support the national vaccination program to protect healthcare resources.