MANILA – Home quarantine, even for asymptomatic individuals, is no longer permitted in the city of Manila because of the hypertransmissible Delta variant of the Covid-19.
The Manila Barangay Bureau (MBB) has directed all village chiefs to liaise with the Manila Health Department (MHD) and the Manila Emergency Operations Centers regarding citizens who are on home quarantine.
On Saturday, MBB Officer-in-Charge Romeo Bagay issued a memorandum instructing village chairpersons to closely monitor the incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) positive cases in order to avoid the spread of the variation known as B.1.617.2.
“Whether asymptomatic, mild or severe, they are to be immediately coordinated with the Manila Health Department and or the Manila Emergency Operations Center for immediate transfer to the appropriate quarantine facility,” the memorandum read.
If a patient refuses to be transferred, village officials may seek the intervention of the police.
Covid-19 positive patients who resist or defy the quarantine directive may be criminally prosecuted under Republic Act No. 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, for violation of Section 9 (e), non-cooperation of the person or entities identified as having the notifiable disease or affected by the health event of public concern.
There were still 895 ongoing Covid-19 cases in the city as of Monday, after the inclusion of 101 new infections.
According to MHD data, the city’s six district hospitals have a 25% occupancy rate, with 124 of 491 Covid-19 beds occupied.
The Manila Covid-19 Field Hospital still has 217 vacant Covid-19 beds, or a 27% occupancy rate out of a total of 344.
