Año says transfer of COVID-19 parents to isolation centers urgent

July 16, 2020

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Thursday said the transfer of COVID-19 patients to COVID Ligtas Centers or isolation centers under the government’s Oplan Kalinga program is urgent and necessary.

Año said this is not only to closely monitor and treat the patients but also for the good of the community.

“This move is plainly to ensure that COVID-19 patients will be attended to and that they will not spread the virus to their families and the community,” Año said.

“They will be properly taken care of if they are at Ligtas Centers and there will be a small chance of spreading the virus to their family,” he added.

Año said reports that the government will do “house-to-house search” to be led by the police or the military in police-type operations are fake news and is part of the disinformation campaign by unscrupulous individuals.

Año emphasized patients will be brought to Ligtas Centers as a precautionary measure to curtail transmission and most importantly, to ensure that they are well taken care of as these isolation centers are equipped to handle their medical needs as opposed to practicing home quarantine.

He said they should not fear being placed under a COVID-19 Ligtas facility as all their needs, including food. will be provided for.

Año said home quarantine was seen to have been a contributory factor in the spread of the coronavirus in the community as some residences do not have dedicated areas to isolate their infected relatives.

“This is the government’s duty to the people which is in accordance with the law especially during this time of crisis and we are fighting against a pandemic. Let’s cooperate with the government because the welfare and health of the community is at stake,” he said.

Año said local health workers will not do “house-to-house” as not all households will be visited by the team, headed by the local government unit’s (LGUs) Local Epidemiological Surveillance Units (LESU), “but only those listed in those COVID positive in the community,” he said.

Año said they will not waste the time of the LESU by going to everyone’s house.

“Only those who tested positive which are included in their list and cannot comply in the minimum requirement for home quarantine will be brought to Ligtas Center," he said.

Año said Republic Act No 11332 provides legal authority for quarantine and isolation purposes and penalizes non-cooperation of persons who have a notifiable disease or are affected by a health event of public concern.

Meanwhile, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) President Domingo Egon Cayoso said “enforcing the law is part of the state’s power,” explaining that conducting house-to-house visits to find COVID-19 patients is in accordance with the law granting public health authorities the power to ensure quarantine and isolation.

Cayoso explained that non-cooperation can be sanctioned by a fine of P20,000 to P50,000 or imprisonment of one to six months under RA 11332.

He said patients who tested positive and are medically proven to be carriers and still refuse to be taken to Ligtas Centers are “actually committing a crime”.

"Under the warrantless arrest rule, you can be arrested but you will not be brought to jail because people there will be infected. You will be brought to quarantine facilities," he added.

Home quarantine is only allowed if they have a separate room where patients can be confined, have their own comfort room; and if they are not living with people who are vulnerable to COVID-19 such as senior citizens and immune-compromised individuals, among others.  Ella Dionisio/DMS