Policemen and local government authorities will be escorting mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 patients from their home quarantines to transfer them to government isolation facilities, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said on July 14.
This comes after the government announced that mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 cases can only stay quarantined in their own homes if they have their own room, own bathroom, with no vulnerable person in the house.
"Ayaw na po natin mag-home quarantine ang mga positive natin kung wala naman po talagang kapasidad 'yung kanilang bahay," Año said in a press briefing.
Instead of isolating at home, patients with COVID-19 symptoms would be picked up from their homes with the help of local government units in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP).
"Kaya ang gagawin natin, sa tulong ng LGUs at PNP ay ibabahay-bahay po natin 'yan at dadalhin natin ang mga positive sa ating COVID isolation facilities," he added.
Año called on the public to tell authorities if they know of someone infected with the respiratory disease in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
"Ilalagay niyo sa panganib ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan kaya hinihikayat po namin ang lahat, mas madali pong gagaling, 14 days lang kayo quarantine, may libreng pagkain pa," he added.
Earlier, the government said home quarantine for mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases could be abused.
The Inter-Agency Task Force and the National Task Force are calls this process of accompanying COVID-19 patients from their homes to government quarantine facilities Oplan Kalinga.
According to Chief Testing Czar Vince Dizon, Oplan Kalinga already started on Sunday and Monday in Navotas and Malabon, where around 50 COVID-19 patients were moved from their homes and into isolation facilities.
Dizon added that the different Metro Manila mayors were consulted and would aid in the plan.
“Ang National Task Force ay mag-aannounce ng isang programa today na tinatawag nating Oplan Kalinga. At ito po ay base na rin sa aming konsultasyon sa iba't ibang mayors ng NCR (National Capital Region),” Dizon said.
“Ito ay aktibong pagsusundo sa ating LGU sa mga ating hindi papasok sa kategoryang puwedeng mag-home quarantine,” he added.
