The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases has suspended the shorter quarantine period for those who have completed the vaccine but have had a patient with COVID-19.
Previously, those who had completed the vaccine were allowed to quarantine for up to seven days instead of 14 days as long as they felt nothing.
According to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, the decision to temporarily suspend the previous protocol is part of the government’s move to slow the increase in the number with COVID-19 and prevent the spread of other variants.
Due to the suspension, all those who had close contact with probable and confirmed COVID-19 patients will now be subjected to a 14-day quarantine.
Asymptomatic patients within 14 days of having exposure to a patient may no longer continue quarantine.
But if they feel symptoms or test positive, they will need to be isolated and taken to a facility.
In the memorandum of the Department of Health, considered close contacts are those who were exposed two days before symptoms or 14 days after the onset of symptoms by those who may have COVID-19; face-to-face contact with 1 meter and face in 15 minutes, direct physical contact, and direct care of a patient without personal protective equipment.
Shorter quarantine on fully vaccinated suspended
Meanwhile, the House panel has already approved the proposal to add licensed medical technologists and registered dentists as vaccinators.
It aims to strengthen the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program further.
House Bill (HB) 9354 amended RA 11525 or COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021 and adopted by the House Committee on Health and doctors, nurses, and trained pharmacists, dentists, and medical technologists will also be added to vaccinators.
4th District Quezon Rep. Angelina “Helen” Tan, one of the authors of the proposal, believes that the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines in the country will be more effective, efficient, and fast.
On the other hand, Tan clarified that the additional work of dentists and medical techs as vaccinators is limited to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Tan also clarified that dentists and medical techs don’t need to conduct inoculation during this pandemic after the PRC-Board of Medical Technology first opposed the proposal.
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