Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 10) — The government is assessing the possibility of further shortening the quarantine period for fully vaccinated individuals tagged as close contacts of COVID-19 patients and bringing down the cost of testing in the country, a top official said on Monday.
Presidential adviser for COVID-19 response Vince Dizon said they are reviewing the length of quarantine period done abroad. He specifically cited the rules in the United States, which has been questioned by international medical experts.
“Pinagaaralan na rin po ng ating mga eksperto ang ginagawa sa ibang bansa, tulad ng Amerika at Europa, na nagpapaiksi ng isolation lalo na para sa bakunado na. Pinagaaralan natin iyan at hopefully magkaroon tayo ng mga pagbabago sa ating polisiya sa susunod na linggo,” he said in a media briefing.
[Translation: Our experts are studying what’s being done in other countries like America and Europe that are shortening the isolation, especially for the vaccinated. We are studying that. Hopefully we will have changes in our policy in the next weeks.]
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently cut down quarantine to five days after exposure to a patient. It advises those with close contact to get tested at least 5 days after the last interaction with a COVID-19 patient.
The Philippines’ current guidelines requires a 7-day isolation for those fully vaccinated and 14 days for unvaccinated or partially unvaccinated individuals. As for fully vaccinated health workers exposed to a case, the government cut the quarantine period from 7 days to no required quarantine period as long as they are asymptomatic and wearing personal protective equipment.
Dizon, who also serves as testing czar, said they are looking into bringing down the current cost of COVID-19 tests while ensuring private laboratories will not lose money over operating cost.
