There are current studies showing that COVID-19 patients without symptoms cannot infect others ten days after they test positive for the deadly virus, the Department of Health said.
“Lumabas na ang articles and evidence na sinasabing ang pasiyenteng na-confirm na positive, pagdating ng ika–sampung araw from the onset of symptoms, or diagnosis, they are already non-infectious,” Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire announced.
DOH updated its protocol for medical workers based on this finding. Asymptomatic people will now be allowed to go home after the said 10-day period.
A similar criteria was published in the World Health Organization website.
Prior to this development, the agency required that a patient should test negative for the virus twice in a row, and results must be from samples taken 24 hours apart before being released.
The DOH said with this finding, it is also looking into shortening the duration of mandatory quarantine.
“Atin pong pinag-aaralan ngayon kung saka-sakaling ito pong additional 14 days pagkatapos niyo ma-discharge sa ospital o di kaya’y quarantine facility at kayo ay kailangan mag-quarantine pa sa inyong bahay o sa step-down facilities kung mababawasan pa natin into just seven days,” said Vergeire.
[We’re currently looking into possibly reducing the additional 14-day mandatory quarantine period at home or in step-down facilities into seven days, which the individual undergoes after getting discharged from the hospital or quarantine facility.
