In the event that a fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated, or unvaccinated employee tested positive for
COVID-19, the aforementioned is required to undergo quarantine or isolation in accordance with the
Department Memorandum No. 2022-0433 or the Updated Guidelines on the Minimum Public
Health Standards for the Continued Safe Reopening of Institutions released by Department of Health
(DOH), as of September 13, 2022.
The updated protocols or guidelines from DOH [Section D, Annex A], along with the severity of illness
categories from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are as follows:
D. UPDATED IN ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE STRATEGIES (Summary matrix is available in
Annex A)
1. Quarantine of asymptomatic close contacts
a. Asymptomatic close contacts of probable or confirmed cases who have been vaccinated
with at least primary series, shall not be required to undergo quarantine.
b. Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated asymptomatic close contacts of probable or
confirmed cases, shall quarantine for at least fourteen (14) days from the date of the last
exposure. Quarantine can be discontinued at the end of this period if they have remained
asymptomatic during the whole period, regardless if testing has been done and resulted
negative.
c. All asymptomatic close contacts shall not be required to test, however should symptoms
develop, immediate isolation shall be required, regardless of test results. If testing is
done, RT-PCR testing is preferred for asymptomatic individuals.
d. All asymptomatic close contacts shall conduct symptom monitoring for at least fourteen
(14) days, regardless of shortened quarantine period. They shall strictly observe
minimum public health standards, which include physical distancing, hand hygiene,
cough etiquette, and wearing of masks, regardless of vaccination status.
e. All health facilities and local health offices shall follow the prescribed duration for
isolation and quarantine. There shall be no testing for the purpose of ending isolation or
quarantine earlier than the prescribed duration.
2. Isolation of individuals with symptoms and suspect, probable, and confirmed cases
a. All suspect, probable, and confirmed cases who are asymptomatic or present with mild
symptoms, and who have been vaccinated with at least primary series, shall isolate for at
least seven (7) days from the sample collection date or from onset of signs and
symptoms, whichever is earlier. If symptoms develop within or after the prescribed
period for the asymptomatic individual, they shall complete the required isolation period
counting from the first day of documented symptom onset as the start. Isolation can be
discontinued without the need for repeat testing upon completion of the recommended
isolation period, provided that they do not have fever for at least twenty four (24) hours
without the use of any antipyretic medications, and shall have improvement of respiratory
signs and symptoms.
b. All suspect, probable, and confirmed cases who are asymptomatic or present with mild
symptoms, and who are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated, shall isolate for at least ten
(10) days from the sample collection date or from onset of signs and symptoms,
whichever is earlier. If symptoms develop within or after the prescribed period for the
asymptomatic individual, they shall complete the required isolation period counting from
the first day of documented symptom onset as the start. Isolation can be discontinued
without the need for repeat testing upon completion of the recommended isolation period,
provided that they do not have fever for at least twenty four (24) hours without the use of
any antipyretic medications, and shall have improvement of respiratory signs and
symptoms.
c. All suspect, probable, and confirmed cases presenting with moderate symptoms,
regardless of vaccination status, shall be isolated for at least ten (10) days from onset of
signs and symptoms. Isolation can be discontinued without the need for repeat testing
upon completion of the recommended isolation period, provided that they do not have
fever for at least twenty four (24) hours without the use of any antipyretic medications,
and shall have improvement of respiratory signs and symptoms.
d. All suspect, probable, and confirmed cases presenting with severe and critical symptoms,
regardless of vaccination status, shall be isolated for at least twenty one (21) days from
onset of signs and symptoms. Isolation can be discontinued without the need for repeat
testing upon completion of the recommended isolation period, provided that they do not
have fever for at least 24 hours without the use of any antipyretic medications and shall
have improvement of respiratory signs and symptoms.
e. All symptomatic severely immunocompromised confirmed cases, as outlined below, shall
be isolated for at least twenty one (21) days from onset of signs and symptoms,
regardless of vaccination status. These shall include patients with:
i. Individuals receiving active chemotherapy for cancer
ii. Being with one (1) year out from receiving a hematopoietic stem cell or solid
organ transplant
iii. Untreated HIV infection with CD4 <200
iv. Primary immunodeficiency
v. Taking immunosuppressive medications (e.g. drugs to suppress rejection of
transplanted organs or to treat rheumatologic conditions such as mycophenolate
and rituximab)
vi. Taking more than 20mg a day of prednisone for more than 14 days
vii. Other conditions as determined by the attending physician
In addition to the minimum isolation period of 21 days, patients should not have
fever for at least twenty four (24) hours without the use of any antipyretic
medications, and have improvement of respiratory signs and symptoms prior to
discontinuation of isolation.
Repeat RT-PCR testing shall also be recommended for this group upon
completion of the recommended isolation period. If the results turn out negative,
they may be discharged from isolation. If the results turn out positive, they shall
be referred to an Infectious Disease Specialist who may issue clearance and
discharge if warranted.
3. Quarantine and isolation of Filipino and foreign nationals entering the Philippines shall comply
with the travel protocols set in the latest IATF resolution, and other future issuances of DOH,
Department of Transportation (DOTR), Department of Tourism (DOT), and the Department of
Foreign Affairs (DFA) as deemed appropriate.
