QC releases COVID-19 home isolation guidelines

The Quezon City government has issued an updated set of guidelines for home isolation and quarantine of suspect, probable and confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Memorandum No. 04-22 or Guidelines for Community Case Management for COVID-19 Program covers persons who are asymptomatic or with mild symptoms such as sore throat, fever, cough and colds.

The guidelines advised close monitoring of health in home quarantine of close contacts of COVID-19 patients who are exposed to suspect, probable, and confirmed COVID-19 cases, and are asymptomatic or with mild symptoms.

Individuals who are suspect, probable, or confirmed COVID-19 cases belonging to vulnerable groups such as the elderly and with comorbidities, pregnant, children, and the unvaccinated, or those who have moderate or severe symptoms, will be prioritized and transferred to city-owned hospitals or HOPE Community Care Facilities.

“It has been reported to us that the majority of recent cases of COVID-19 are either asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms. These cases usually recover with minimal intervention and may be managed at home under proper medical guidance and monitoring,” QC Mayor Joy Belmonte said in a news release.

Belmonte said that persons under home quarantine will be given a home quarantine order by the Quezon City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (QCESU) and will be automatically enrolled in the Community Case Management for COVID-19 Program and given a Home Care Package.

The package consists of a home care kit, a hygiene kit, a home care instructions handbook, daily monitoring, and food assistance.

Non-confirmed COVID-19 patients will be given a basic home care kit containing a thermometer, face masks, paracetamol, lagundi tablets, ascorbic acid, and a home care instructions handbook.

COVID-19 positive patients, meanwhile, will receive a separate homecare kit with alcohol, oral rehydration salts, pulse oximeter, vitamins, and medicines for adults and children, in addition to all the items included in the basic home care kit.

“Through these kits, our affected citizens will have one less thing to worry about. They can refocus their energies on their recovery and on making sure that the people around them are safe from the virus,” Belmonte said.

The kit will also have a handbook which provides basic information and reminders for those in home isolation or quarantine, including a temperature and home monitoring log, as well as contact numbers of the barangays, healthcare facilities, and emergency hotline numbers.

City health officials will monitor individuals enrolled in the program on a daily basis either through teleconsultation through BantAI COVID, the health centers and city-owned hospitals, or through community visits and rounds conducted by the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs).

Food assistance and other household supplies will also be provided to those on home quarantine or isolation.—LDF, GMA News