How long does a COVID-19 patient remain infectious?
More and more people are getting COVID-19 tests as the surge in new cases continues this January 2022.
Making the situation more complicated is the fact that the surge also coincides with the flu season in the country.
In a recent episode of Mars Pa More, Dr. Marc Angelo Corrales, a physician from Safeguard DNA Diagnostics, Inc., shed light on how similar flu and COVID-19 symptoms are, especially the Omicron variant.
According to Dr. Corrales, the Omicron variant is 10 times more communicable than the Delta variant, and its symptoms can be easily mistaken for the common flu.
“Ang usual na nararamdaman ng tao is your usual fever, cough, colds, and sore throat,” Dr. Corrales said. “'Yun nga kaya medyo tricky siya kasi these are your usual symptoms 'pag may sinat ka lang, e.”
He also enlightened Mars Pa More host Camille Prats and guest host Echo Calingal on when the ideal time to get tested for COVID-19 is.
“If you are exposed, please do get tested, if you can, at least five days after your last exposure.,” he revealed. “Some people misinterpret na kunwari na-expose ako today, magpapa-test agad ako tomorrow.”
Dr. Corrales emphasized, “Actually, hindi magandang practice 'yun. If you test too soon, the problem with that is you might get a false negative result.”
Camille Prats and Echo Calingal discuss COVID-19 testing and isolation with Dr. Marc Angel Corrales / Source: Mars Pa More
He also detailed what COVID-19 patients should do right after getting a positive result.
“First of all, when you test positive, the first thing you do is isolate,” he said. “Pangalawa, you contact trace.”
Dr. Corrales reiterated that immediate isolation is important, especially for those living with people who have comorbidities or compromised immune system.
He also said that studies found after 10-14 days of quarantine, a COVID-19 patient is no longer infectious or can no longer transmit the virus.
However, he still advised all recovering COVID-19 patients to get tested after their quarantine period.
Watch the full discussion in the Mars Pa More video above.
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For more features like this, tune in to Mars Pa More from Monday to Friday, at 8:45 a.m. on GMA.
Viewers abroad can also watch Mars Pa More via GMA's flagship international channel, GMA Pinoy TV. For the program guide, visit www.gmapinoytv.com.