Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda ordered all who have undergone coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing to isolate themselves while awaiting their results.
“Symptomatic or not, huwag na huwag pa rin kayong makikihalubilo sa iba hangga’t wala kayong hawak na resulta ng test. Dahil kung sakali man na kayo ay magpositibo at makahawa, kakasuhan namin kayo dahil sa kapabayaan ninyo,” said Governor Delta.
Under the Executive Order No. 20-2020 issued by the governor, all ‘probable COVID-19 positive’ patients are required to complete quarantine or isolation upon swabbing.
The EO says home quarantine is allowed, only if the patient is asymptomatic, owns a room, and is living in a household with no vulnerable or with comorbidity member.
The order also made it clear that other designated places for quarantine or isolation are duly accredited hotels and other lodging houses; hospitals, health and medical institutions; quarantine or isolation facilities provided by local government units, as well as those provided by employers, subject to same conditions prescribed in home quarantine.
It is also mandatory for testing centers to “promptly report immediately upon testing to the Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (PESU) and the City or Municipal Health Office (C/MHO) where the individual tested is a resident for proper monitoring.”
“Sa lahat ng testing centers sa probinsiya, obligado na kayong itawag sa Provincial Health Office (PHO) at inyong MHO ang mga taong sumailalim sa COVID-19 test. Ginagawa natin ito, dahil sa panahon ngayon, marami pa rin ang walang disiplina. Alam na nilang under investigation sila, pero patuloy pa rin sila sa pakikisalamuha sa ibang tao,” Governor Delta said.
Also, testing centers are responsible for promptly reporting the test results to PESU, CHO or MHO immediately upon release.
It is the duty of the testing centers to apprise those undergoing testing of health and safety protocols, and have them execute a consent form.
Any person who will violate the said order shall be subject to prosecution in accordance with the Revised Penal Code, Ordinance No. 755, Series of 2020, and other special laws and ordinances.