The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) will discuss the possibility of reducing quarantine and isolation period for members of the general public after the protocol was greenlit to fully vaccinated healthcare workers, according Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Loepoldo Vega.
Vega, also the COVID-19 treatment czar, told DZRH on Wednesday that there is a need to "streamline" quarantine and isolation protocols in order to avoid confusion.
"Pag-uusapan na rin sa IATF through the DOH na i-update ang protocol for quarantine and isolation para sa general public, para iisa na po hindi nagkakagulo," he said in an interview.
(The IATF through the DOH will discuss the update of protocol for quarantine and isolation for the general public, so we can only have one and reduce confusion.)
"Kailangan talaga nating i-streamline ang ating protocols for isolation and quarantine para sa healthcare workers at sa general population," he added.
(We really need to streamline our protocols for isolation and quarantine for healthcare workers and the general population.)
This comes as the government announced it is cutting down quarantine protocols for fully vaccinated healthcare workers to five days.
Vega clarified, however, that this will only depend on the Hospital Infection Control Committee.
"Depende po sa kanilang Hospital Infection Control Committee, parang pag-nagrecommend ang hospital infection committee na pwede na sila, o i-testing pa sila, ganun ang gagawin po," he said.
(It will depend on their Hospital Infection Control Committee, meaning the hospital infection committee can recommend them to go back or to get tested.)
He said such protocols is not only being implemented in the country, but also overseas as experts begin the understand the nature of the Omicron variant.
According to Vega, the vaccines also offer additional protection to recipients by reducing their viral load to the point that it can no longer be transmitted.
"Kung magkaroon man sila ng sakit na Omicron, kapag asymptomatic sila at bakunado, eh bababa na yung viral load nila at hindi na makaka-transmit talaga. 'Yun ang protection ng bakuna talaga."
(If ever they contract Omicron, and they are asymptomatic and vaccinated, then their viral load will be down and they can no longer transmit the virus. That’s the protection of vaccines.)
The shorter quarantine is introduced as the country hits record-high new cases of COVID-19 as of late, also victimizing healthcare workers causing staffing issues in hospitals.
