DOH: Arroyo need not undergo self-quarantine after trip

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo need not undergo a 10-day self-quarantine for A(H1N1) after her latest foreign trip to Japan and Brazil, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Wednesday. In a radio interview, Duque said the World Health Organization merely recommends self-observation, with quarantine coming only when there are symptoms of the A(H1N1)virus. "Ang ating bagong policy o guideline para sa mga galing sa affected countries mag-self quarantine sila o obserbahan nila, ngayon, observe na lang kung may sintomas. Kung meron, mag-self-quarantine sila," he said in an interview on dzXL radio. [A new guideline for those coming from affected countries is: Observe yourself for symptoms. You should undergo quarantine only if there are symptoms of A(H1N1). The same policy will apply to senators and congressmen who go abroad during the congressional break, as well as to travelers going in and out of the country.] But he stressed that Mrs. Arroyo wouldn’t be exempted from the standard procedures upon her arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. "Dadaan si pangulo sa lahat na proseso. Itong thermal scan, health alert notice bibigyan siya at health declaration checklist isa-isa niyang sasagutin ito [Mrs. Arroyo will have to go through the regular procedures, such as thermal scan, a health alert notice, and filling out of health declaration checklist]," he said. When asked if self-quarantine is no longer automatically required upon one’s return to the country, Duque said: "Di na ho, di na ho, di na ho [not anymore, not anymore, not anymore]." "Basta self-observation na lang [Self-observation will suffice]," he added. Meanwhile, Duque reiterated there is no cause for panic despite the declaration of a low-level community outbreak of A(H1N1) in Metro Manila. He said that of the 473 cases reported so far, 400 have been sent home after they recovered. "Di dapat tayo mag-panic ... Mataas ang kumpyansa natin ito ay mild forms of influenza illness. Kahapon of the 473 cases, 400 pinauwi na [We should not panic. We are confident this is a mild form of influenza illness. Of the 473 cases as of Tuesday, 400 have been sent home]," he said. - GMANews.TV