The Philippine government is now requiring all persons with COVID-19 to spend isolation in a government-approved facility, except if they are considered vulnerable.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced this on Thursday, September 24, in a statement.

“We likewise notify the public that facility-based isolation shall be required for confirmed asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 cases,” he said.

The exception is when the patient is considered vulnerable or has co-morbidities. By this, the IATF-EID refers to “minors, senior citizens, people with underlying health conditions, pregnant women, persons with disability who cannot carry out self-care, and immunocompromised patients.” This should be attested by a local health worker.

The vulnerable coronavirus case must also have a house that allows for proper home isolation, meaning they will have their own room and bathroom. The full list of requirements for home isolation are in the Department of Health and the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s Joint Administrative Order No. 2020-0001.

Another exception to the rule is if the isolation facilities in the region are full, said Roque.

It was Interior Secretary Eduardo Año who first said publicly that the coronavirus task force was considering banning home quarantine. Officials have said this is necessary since some persons with coronavirus were found to break their quarantine at home.

But the plan was put on hold. The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases said it would consult local governments first since the proposal’s effectiveness depends on the availability of isolation facilities. – Rappler.com