An official of the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force confirmed that home isolation will no longer be an option for mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients amid the decreasing number of cases here.
Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force confirmed in an interview with the City Information Office (CIO) that they will stop home isolation now that the Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility (TTMF) in Davao City can already accommodate more patients.
“[I’d like] to confirm that starting today, [November 3), wala na tayong home isolation. Ipa-complete nalang natin ‘yong currently naka-home isolation (there is no more home isolation. Those who are undergoing home quarantine will just have to complete their quarantine days),” Schlosser said.
Starting November 3, patients who are experiencing mild symptoms or asymptomatic will have to be admitted to the TTMF.
It can be recalled that in September, Davao City COVID-19 Task Force has started allowing positive patients to stay home due to the surge in the number of cases, provided that they have a separate room from other members of the family; have a separate bathroom/comfort room in their rooms, and are not living with people who belong to the vulnerable population.
It aims to decongest the TTMF in the city and help prioritize those in dire need of medical assistance.
“We are going to stop home isolation because ang clause ng home isolation – we only allow home isolation if may surge. Currently, we are not anymore within the surge. Wala na tayong surge so therefore, wala ng reason para mag-home isolation because we have enough number of COVID beds. Dili nata magkulang. So, even ‘tong mga asymptomatic, we can accommodate them sa atong mga TTMFs,” Schlosser said.
Asked about the current number of TTMFs in Davao City, she said that she has yet to check the updated number because there are some TTMFs that were closed due to lack of COVID-19 patients.
Based on the Regional Situation Update on COVID-19 in Davao Region as of November 03, 2021, by the Department of Health (DOH) Davao Region, Davao City has recorded 35 new cases which brings the total number of cases to 730.
“Dili ta sure ani kung kinsa ang naka home isolation but sa ing-ani kababa sa active cases (We are not sure who among them are on home isolation but with these active cases), when we say active cases, this is for the past 14 days, this is very low. Ang atong positivity rate for this week is 7. That’s actually very low,” she said.CIO
