DOH doc: Home isolation allowed for mild COVID cases to decongest hospitals

Facade of the DOH main office in Manila. INQUIRER.net file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Mild COVID-19 cases are allowed to stay at home to isolate and recuperate from the severe respiratory disease to help decongest overwhelmed hospitals, an official of the Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday.

However, mild COVID-19 patients should be strictly monitored by health professionals in case they need more medical intervention. They are also advised to avail telemedicine services and consult doctors of their condition, Dr. Rogene Solante of the DOH vaccine experts panel said.

“It’s mainly driven because full na ‘yung mga hospitals natin and pina-prioritize natin sa mga hospital ngayon ‘yung talagang kailangan i-closely monitor at saka ‘yung talagang nangangailangan ng hospital care kagaya ng moderate more or less severe and critical cases,” he said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

(It’s mainly driven because hospitals are full and we are prioritizing those who need close monitoring and hospital care like moderate, severe, and critical COVID-19 cases.)

“So ‘yung bed na supposedly i-allocate sa mild, dapat ibigay sa severe and critical. Itong mga mild ay sa bahay na lang but with close guidance and monitoring na rin sa mga doctors,” he added.

(The beds supposedly for mild cases will instead be alloted to severe and critical cases. Patients with mild symptoms should stay at home but with close guidance and monitoring by doctors.)

The patients are also advised to closely coordinate with their barangays for them to be monitored and be given assistance if needed.

They should also regularly check their oxygen level and body temperature, Solante added.

As of Monday, April 12, the Philippines has 876,225 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 157,451 active cases, 703,625 recoveries, and 15,149 deaths.

JPV