MALACAÑANG announced Wednesday, August 11, 2021, that the protocol reducing the quarantine period for fully vaccinated close contacts of probable and confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases has been suspended as part of measures to address this latest surge in infections.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases issued the suspension on Tuesday, August 10.
Fully vaccinated close contacts and travelers shall now be placed under a 14-day quarantine period, as provided in Department of Health Department Memorandum No. 2020-0512.
Close contacts who remain asymptomatic for at least 14 days from the date of exposure can discontinue their quarantine.
If they develop symptoms or test positive for Sars-CoV-2, they shall be isolated and shall be admitted and treated in an appropriate facility.
The same memorandum defines close contacts as those who have exposure two days before and within 14 days after the onset of symptoms of the probable or confirmed case through the following: face-to-face contact within one meter and for at least 15 minutes, direct physical contact, direct care for a patient without using personal protective equipment, or other situations as indicated by local risk assessments.
Under IATF Resolution No. 124-B series of 2021 issued on July 2, 2021, fully vaccinated individuals are allowed to undergo a shortened seven-day quarantine period, provided they remain asymptomatic for the duration of the seven-day period. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / VoxPop Philippines)