Davao City now allows home isolation for mild, asymptomatic COVID-19 patients

IMPORTANT REMINDER: A streamer at a pedestrian overpass in Davao City reminds residents to stay at home amid the rising cases of COVID-19 infection in the city. This photo was taken in March 2020. (Photo KARLOS MANLUPIG / Inquirer Mindanao)

DAVAO CITY, Davao del Sur, Philippines — The city government here has started allowing home isolation for mild and asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 to prevent more patients from swamping quarantine facilities.

But Mayor Sara Duterte said the priority was still to put patients in temporary treatment and monitoring facilities.

Home isolation will only be resorted to when those facilities are full. In this case, those living with patients should follow minimum health standards at home, such as the wearing of masks.

“Our home isolation guide is collated from the DILG [Department of Interior and Local Government], DOH [Department of Health] and our [COVID-19] response team,” Duterte said.

When the new policy started being implemented several days earlier, there were 365 patients placed on home isolation.

Patients under home isolation are monitored through telemedicine personnel and are provided with kits to allow them to monitor their own vital signs.

Earlier, the city approved the home care program of the Davao Doctors Hospital, a Manuel V. Pangilinan-led tertiary hospital in the city, so that it can implement the same program for its patients.

ATM