On Covid-19 home quarantine and vaccine
The Covid-19 infection cases tally in our country remain high at around 3,000 daily after six months of community quarantine.
I wrote in the Courier on Aug. 30 that those with Covid-19 must be brought to isolation centers rather than being quarantined at home since having infected individuals in the community spread the virus throughout the barangay – a concern having an impact on disease management.
The Philippine Star reported in its Sept. 9 issue that the Department of the Interior and Local Government said it does not anymore subscribe to the home quarantine policy. The DILG secretary then is seeking for an amendment of a joint memorandum circular between the DILG and the Department of Health to disallow home quarantine for mild and asymptomatic patients. It should be this way.
To be able to flatten the Covid-19 curve and attain normalcy, all patients must undergo health care in designated isolation facilities.
On vaccines which are now in their final stage of clinical trials, the President said the Philippines will go for the most affordable vaccine since he does not believe that cheaper vaccines are less potent than costly ones.
The choice of a vaccine should be based not on its price but on its active composition or quality and recommended by the World Health Organization, the DOH, and the Food and Drug Administration. — PERCIVAL B. ALIPIT, Baguio City