DOH Stands Firm on 21-Day Quarantine
MANILA – Despite requests from some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families to shorten the 21-day quarantine period to combat the entry of the Ebola virus, Department of Health spokesperson Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy said they would not allow these.
It was earlier reported that some OFWs and their relatives are asking for a two-week quarantine, instead of three weeks (21 days).
“Ang incubation period ay hindi nagbabago, ito ay dalawampu’t isang araw. Ibig sabihin kung pagbibigyan ang dalawang linggo, may nalalabi pang isang linggo na posibleng lumitaw ang problema o mga sintomas ng Ebola,” said Lee Suy.
Lee Suy appealed to the OFWs and their families for understanding.
“Humihingi kami ng paunawa sa pamilya at sa mga OFW. Ginagawa ito para maproteksyunan ang mas nakararami, ang pamilya natin at mahal sa buhay, nang sa gayun eh mas maayos at malusog ang pangkalahatan,” he said.
The DOH also denied that nobody from the agency met or talked with the OFWs.
“Ang sumalubong sa kanila, Bureau of Quarantine. Ang naka-tao sa area ay Bureau of Quarantine. Ang araw-araw na nagmo-monitor sa kanila ay Bureau of Quarantine. Ang Bureau of Quarantine ay Department of Health,” Lee Suy said.