DOH opposes home quarantine for returning Filipinos

The Department of Health (DOH) has stated that balikbayan or overseas Filipino workers who test positive for COVID-19 should not go home for quarantine.

“Sa tingin ko base po sa ating protocols, we cannot really allow, especially positive individuals, and then we will be allowing home quarantine coming from other countries,” said DOH spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire.

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According to some balikbayans who tested positive for COVID-19, they did not receive any instruction from the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), so they stayed at the hotel, and their expenses grew.

A balikbayan said there is no doctor, no medicine, no disinfection, and their hotel room is not cleaned, so it would be better for them to just get well at home.

In BOQ’s defense, they don’t have enough staff even if they want to call everyone.

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“Kulang na kulang po talaga kami ng tao kaya nga po nananawagan kami since December 2020 na madagdagan po kami ng tao kasi napakarami po ng responsibilidad namin. Imagine niyo po ‘yung call center namin na tatawag dapat sa mga positive, pinipilit naming tawagan lahat ng nagpa-positive na 500 per day,” said Dr. Roberto Salvador, BOQ deputy director.

(We are really short of people, so we have been calling since December 2020 for more people because we have so many responsibilities. Imagine our call center that should call positive ones. We try to call everyone who tested positive which is 500 per day.)

DOH opposes home quarantine for returning Filipinos

The BOQ’s recommendation is to first reduce the number of balikbayans and OFWs that can be accepted in the Philippines from 4,000 to 3,000 per day so that they can keep up.

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Meanwhile, foreigners entering the Philippines must present proof of the COVID-19 vaccine beginning in February.

“Beginning Feb.16, 2022, proof of full vaccination shall be made a requirement for entry of all foreign nationals allowed to enter the Philippines,” said Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles.

Proof of vaccination must be presented before boarding a plane at any airport in the country.

Exemptions include children under the age of 18, individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to medical reasons which must have proof of a public health region in the country of origin.

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