Venice Mall vaccination hub in Taguig. Photo from Taguig PIO
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ COVID-19 task force has suspended the shortened quarantine period for arriving fully vaccinated individuals who are close contacts of probable and confirmed COVID-19 cases, Malacañang said Wednesday.
Instead of undergoing a facility-based quarantine for just seven days, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said fully vaccinated persons considered close contacts of COVID-19 cases will undergo a 14-day quarantine period as stated by the Department of Health’s (DOH) protocol.
“The decision to temporarily suspend said protocol is part of the continued implementation of proactive measures to slow down the surge in COVID-19 cases and to stop the further spread of the variants,” Roque said in a statement.
Citing a DOH memorandum, Roque said close contacts are those who had exposure to COVID-19 cases “two days before and the 14 days after the onset of symptoms of the probable or confirmed case through the following: Face-to-face contact within 1 meter and for at least 15 minutes, direct physical contact, direct care for a patient without using personal protective equipment, or other situations as indicated by local risk assessments.”
“Close contacts who remain asymptomatic for at least 14 days from the date of exposure can discontinue their quarantine. In the event that they develop symptoms or test positive for coronavirus, they shall be isolated and shall be admitted and treated in an appropriate facility,” Roque added.
The new policy comes as the Philippines was again placed at a “high risk” status following the rise in new COVID-19 cases recorded daily.
Earlier, the government allowed fully vaccinated travelers from “green” or low-risk countries for COVID-19 to enter the country to undergo a seven-day facility-based quarantine.
Even fully vaccinated individuals who are close contacts of COVID-19 positive patients were covered in this policy.