Manila disallows home quarantine due to Delta concerns

MANILA – Home quarantine even for asymptomatic patients is no longer allowed in the city of Manila due to the hypertransmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus.

The Manila Barangay Bureau (MBB) ordered all village chiefs to coordinate with the Manila Health Department (MHD) and the Manila Emergency Operations Centers regarding residents on home quarantine.

MBB Officer-in-Charge Romeo Bagay issued the memorandum on Saturday, directing village chairpersons to closely monitor the occurrence of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) positive cases to prevent the possible spread of the variant also known as B.1.617.2.

“Whether asymptomatic, mild or severe, they are to be immediately coordinated with the Manila Health Department and or the Manila Emergency Operations Center for immediate transfer to the appropriate quarantine facility,” the memorandum read.

In case a patient refuses to be transferred, village officials may seek police assistance.

Covid-19 positive patients who resist or defy the quarantine directive may be criminally prosecuted for violation of Section 9 (e), non-cooperation of the person or entities identified as having the notifiable disease, or affected by the health event of public concern, under Republic Act No. 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.

As of Monday, there were still 895 Covid-19 active cases in the city after 101 new infections were added.

MHD data showed the city’s six district hospitals have an occupancy rate of 25 percent, with 124 of 491 Covid-19 beds occupied.

The Manila Covid-19 Field Hospital still has 217 available Covid-19 beds, or 27 percent occupancy rate of its 344 total.