10 days of isolation required for asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 patients – DOH reminder

MANILA, Philippines — The isolation period for COVID-19 patients who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms is still 10 days, the Department of Health (DOH) said in a statement issued on Friday.

“If you have no symptoms of COVID-19 but are positive, you need to isolate for 10 days from the day you tested positive,” the DOH said in Filipino. “If you develop symptoms while in isolation, you need to be isolated for 10 days from the day you feel the symptoms.”

These guidelines apply to both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, according to the DOH.

Meanwhile, the isolation period for positive patients with severe and critical cases is still 21 days.

On the other hand, the quarantine period for travelers and close contacts of positive individuals is seven days for those who are vaccinated and 14 days for those who are not vaccinated.

The DOH also released the following for guidelines in the interpretation of antigen tests:

• Symptomatic, antigen test positive, highly likely positive: Isolate immediately.
• Symptomatic, antigen test negative:  Isolate immediately and test with RT-PCR.
• Exposed to COVID-positive but asymptomatic, antigen test positive: Likely positive, isolate immediately.
• Exposed to COVID-positive but asymptomatic, antigen test negative: Quarantine first and test with RT-PCR on fifth day after exposure
• Not exposed, not symptomatic, antigen test positive: Isolate immediately. Consult a healthcare professional.
• Not exposed, not symptomatic, antigen test negative: Result unreliable.

The DOH issued these reminders after detecting seven imported and three local cases of the highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19. This brings the confirmed Omicron cases in the country to 14.

According to the DOH, this suggests a “high possibility” that there is already local transmission of the Omicron variant in the country. However, an epidemiological investigation is still ongoing.

RELATED STORIES

PH detects 3 local, 7 imported Omicron COVID-19 variant cases

DOH warns: COVID-19 cases may increase ‘exponentially’ in coming days, weeks

NCR under Alert Level 3 from Jan. 3 to Jan. 15 — Palace

ATM