Procedure on getting post-isolation clearances for both positive and close contact

The Department of Health issued an update guideline for quarantine of COVID-19 close contacts and isolation of positive patients amid the new wave of cases believed to be caused by the omicron variant.

City health Services Officer Dr. Rowena Galpo advised the public to save the contact numbers of their District Health Centers and barangay officials in case they undergo quarantine or isolation at home.

Same procedures apply for both close contacts and positive COVID-19 cases who will isolate at home. They are to coordinate with their Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) once they undergo quarantine or isolation for monitoring and consequent issuance of clearance upon completion of quarantine or isolation period.

From seven days of quarantine of asymptomatic close contacts, the period is now down to five days for fully vaccinated individuals and 14 days for partially or unvaccinated persons. The counting of quarantine period starts from last known exposure date to a positive COVID-19 person and can already be reintegrated to their families or workplaces if no symptoms developed during the quarantine.

Testing is no longer required for asymptomatic close contacts but they are advised to monitor possible development of infection up to 14 days, continue wearing a well-fitting mask and strict adherence to minimum public health standards.

If symptoms develop during the quarantine period, the close contact is advised to isolate immediately and follow the isolation protocol of seven days for fully vaccinated individuals from onset of symptoms while 10 days counting of isolation from onset of symptoms for partially and unvaccinated individuals.

For positive but asymptomatic cases, isolation is seven days from date of test for fully vaccinated persons and 10 days from date of test for partially or unvaccinated persons.

Isolation period for positive moderate cases is 10 days from onset of symptoms; 21 days from onset of symptoms for positive severe cases while positive immuno-compromised persons are to isolate for 21 days from onset of symptoms with negative repeat RT-PCR. – Jessa Samidan/PIO Baguio