DOH to report time-based recoveries every Sunday

Another batch of time-based recoveries from the “Oplan Recovery” initiative will be reported over the coming weekend, the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday.

A time-based recovery refers to a mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 case who completed a 14-day isolation starting on the date of onset of illness or specimen collection, the DOH added.

The department’s Oplan Recovery was behind more than 4,000 new recoveries reported on July 13 and the record-high 38,000 logged on July 30. 

“Through this initiative, data collection, validation, and reconciliation of information is enhanced between the DOH Central and Regional Offices and the local government units,” the DOH said in a statement.

“This is to inform the public that on Sunday another batch of time-based recoveries from DOH's Oplan Recovery will be reported. Moreover, we are announcing that time-based recoveries from COVID-19 will be reported regularly every Sunday,” it added.

Netizens and lawmakers alike were up in arms on July 30 after the DOH reported a staggering 38,075 new recoveries in a single day, 37,166 of which were mild and asymptomatic cases re-tagged as recoveries while 909 were newly reported by surveillance units. 

“Current recovery policies now show that at the 10th day of illness, the risk of transmitting the virus to other people is significantly reduced,” the DOH said then.

Some senators accused the DOH of “fooling” the public. 

Following the backlash, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire explained that the re-tagging of asymptomatic and mild cases was based on scientific evidence. 

“This is not an assumption. This is based on scientific evidence. Experts across the globe are backing this up, and this is being implemented in other countries also,” Vergeire said.

In June, the DOH announced that repeat tests would no longer be required in order for a COVID-19 patient to be declared a recovery. 

“Ayon ito sa rekomendasyon ng mga kasalukuyang pag-aaral na ang virus ay positibo sa RT-PCR ng hanggang walong linggo, ngunit hindi na nakakahawa pagkatapos ng ika-9 na araw mula sa araw na lumabas ang sintomas,” DOH said. —LDF, GMA News