Saleema Refran said on her report in "24 Oras" that the fourteen COVID-19 patients in Quezon City were sent home following their test for the virus was to follow the directive of the Department of Health.
Under DOH Memorandum 2020-0108, "persons under investigation (PUIs) and positive COVID-19 patients who exhibit mild symptoms with no co-morbidities and non-elderly are advised to be sent home for strict self-isolation and close monitoring by local health authorities."
Among the 14 patients, four of them belonged to urban poor communities, which includes one who has a kidney disease needing dialysis twice a week.
Quezon City epidemiology and surveillance unit head Rolando Cruz said that the patients were not practicing social distancing measures after checking them at home.
According to Cruz, they saw that home quarantine measures or self-quarantine measures are not done inside the house.
He also added that they are inside with their families without wearing any masks and it's dangerous.
In order to contain the virus, Cruz urged the public to coordinate with the city government in which they can put them in one place, especially if they are living in urban poor communities.
In line with the situation, the city government said the seven patients were transferred to HOPE 1, an alternative medical facility, while the dialysis patient was put in a hospital.
By: Denise Fajardo
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