Department of Health allows people with mild COVID-19 symptoms to leave the hospital and undergo home quarantine.

Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire of DOH said that

“six of the current 140 people infected with COVID-19 in the Philippines have already been allowed to return home, but they are still subject to isolation and strict monitoring from health officials in their respective residences.”

Based on her interview with DZMM, she explained, “with the entry of data and based on assessment these six persons are allowed to go home and practice self-quarantine but they should isolate themselves and will still be monitored because they are COVID-19 positive”.

Based on their new decision tool, people with mild symptoms are allowed to go home and practice home quarantine and isolate because they are not symptomatic.

The measures were adopted to ensure that conditions of those who are with mild symptoms would not worsen and make treatment more complicated.

Vergeire added, “They want to avoid further infection of cases with mild symptoms that’s why they made that decision”. and also they based it on the recommendation of their experts.

According to Vergiere most of their 140 confirmed cases are only having mild symptoms. These mild symptoms are:

• Cough
• Sore Throat
• Runny Nose
• Colds
• Fever

For severe symptoms:

• Difficulty in breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Needed a piece of equipment to help them breath (Critical condition)

DOH reported an additional 29 persons infected with COVID-19 in the country on Sunday. This brings the total number to 140 people so far, this includes the three more fatalities, which increased the COVID-19’s death toll in the Philippines to 11 people.

Department of Health also said that most of the fatalities had underlying health conditions before being infected, which makes them prioritize high-risk patients like the elderly, newborn babies and toddlers, and pregnant women.

They also assured the health workers will decide that a patient will fit for home quarantine is well-equipped. 

In addition, Vergiere cleared that their new strategy was not meant to neglect patients, stressing it was a way to protect them from contracting further illnesses. She said,

“Ang gusto lang ho natin maiayos natin na ang mga nasa ospital natin ay ‘yong mga severe and critical po,”

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