OCTA recommends 14 days quarantine for returning OFs and OFWs amid new COVID-19 variant threat

The OCTA Research group on Wednesday recommended the strict enforcement of mandatory quarantine period for returning Filipinos amid threats of new COVID-19 variants in other countries.

In an interview, OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David pushed for a 14-day isolation – or even longer – for countrymen coming from abroad to prevent a further rise in cases.

“We echoed that recommendation to have mandatory 14-day or even longer quarantine period,” David told Balitaan.

“I know medyo costly ‘yung to have quarantines, and medyo nakakapagod for our returning Filipinos,” he added. “Pero at the same time, we cannot allow a surge to happen because we are not willing to make tough decisions.”

David was reacting to reports that a new coronavirus variant detected in France was more difficult to detect through standard tests.

Media company France 24 reported in March that French authorities are investigating a new variant found in the western Brittany region – but noted that it currently “does not appear to be more dangerous or contagious.”