MANILA – The government is eyeing to implement the proposed “no home quarantine” protocol for coronavirus patients, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said.
Año explained that the move, which has yet to be approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), aims to curb the virus spread among households.
“Magkakaroon ng amendment ‘yung JMC (joint memorandum circular) between DOH and DILG. So what we are going to do is really strictly implement the no-home quarantine [policy],” Año told CNN.
“Very important kasi na talagang mailabas sila sa bahay, kasi nahahawa ‘yung pamilya. That is for the good and for the sake of their family members… Ang talagang pinakamaganda, lahat ay ma-isolate natin, rich or poor,” he added.
According to Año, the establishment of quarantine facilities and hotels turned isolation centers should prompt the COVID-19 patients to go there. However, the government will make exemptions if the patients have valid reasons, he said.
“Pero huwag mag-alala ang ating mga kababayan, kasi we are very considerate. Gusto lang natin mapababa itong mga confirmed at positive cases. We will be considerate, but we really have to enforce strictly the no-home quarantine,” Año said.
The Health Department currently does not prohibit home quarantine as long as the patient has his own room and toilet and does not live with vulnerable people, including the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions./PN
