EXECUTIVE ORDER NO.
_04_
Series of 2022
AN ORDER REITERATING DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH UPDATED GUIDELINES ON
QUARANTINE, ISOLATION AND TESTING FOR COVID-19 IN RESPONSE
TO OMICRON VARIANT IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MALUNGON
WHEREAS, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued Proclamation No. 922 declaring a State of
Calamity throughout the Philippines due to Corona Virus Disease and Proclamation No. 929 series of
2020 imposing guidelines on Enhanced Community Quarantine to contain the spread of COVID-19;
WHEREAS, Section 15 Article II of the 1987 Constitution states that the State shall
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among
them;
WHEREAS, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued Proclamation No. 1018 (s. 2021) dated
September 10, 2021 extending the period of the State of Calamity throughout the Philippines until
September 12, 2022;
WHEREAS, due to rising COVID-19 cases and pursuant to the recommendation of the
Screening and Validation Committee, the national IATF-MEID approved the risk level
classifications of provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities with the
different variants including Delta and Omicron which caused the escalation of cases;
WHEREAS, the number of Filipinos currently sick with COVID-19 hits a record high for a
fifth straight day at over 287,000 after the Department of Health reported 37,154 new infections
on January 16, 2022 where the number of new cases recorded is also the third highest count
since the pandemic struck, despite the non-submission of data of 12 testing laboratories, which
contributed an average of 2.7% of all samples tested;
WHEREAS, the continued implementation of proactive measures and restrictions must be
put in place to slow down the surge in COVID-19 cases, stop further spread of variants, buy time
for the health system to cope, and to protect more lives, DOH issued Department Memorandum
No. 2022-0013 dated January 14, 2022 providing for the “Updated Guidelines on Quarantine,
Isolation and Testing for COVID-19 Response and Management for the Omicron Variant”;
NOW THEREFORE, I, MARIA THERESA D. CONSTANTINO, Municipal Mayor of
Malungon, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order the following:
SECTION 1. REITERATION OF DOH GUIDELINES UNDER DEPARTMENT
MEMORANDUM NO. 2022-0013 dated January 14, 2022, the following protocols and
guidelines is hereby adopted and shall be implemented:
A. QUARANTINE OF ASYMPTOMATIC CLOSE CONTACTS.
1. Fully vaccinated asymptomatic close contacts of individuals with symptoms, suspect,
probable, or confirmed cases shall quarantine for at least 5 days from the date of the
last exposure. Quarantine can be discontinued at the end of the set quarantine period if
they have remained asymptomatic during the whole recommended quarantine period
regardless if testing has been done and resulted negative.
2. Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated asymptomatic close contacts of individuals with
symptoms, suspect, probable, or confirmed cases shall quarantine for at least 14 days
from the date of the last exposure. Quarantine can be discontinued at the end of the set
quarantine period if they have remained asymptomatic during the whole recommended
quarantine period regardless if testing has been done and resulted negative.
Executive Order No. 05, s. 2022
Page 2____________________
3. All asymptomatic close contacts shall not be required testing unless symptoms will
develop, and should immediately isolate regardless of test results.
4. All asymptomatic close contacts shall conduct symptom monitoring for at least 14
days, regardless of shortened quarantine period. They shall strictly observe minimum
public health standards, including physical distancing, hand hygiene, cough etiquette,
and wearing of masks, among others, regardless of vaccination status.
B. ISOLATION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SYMPTOMS AND SUSPECT,
PROBABLE, AND CONFIRMED CASES
I. All asymptomatic and fully vaccinated confirmed cases, shall isolate for at least 7
days from sample collection date. Isolation can be discontinued without the need
for repeat testing, provided they have remained asymptomatic during the whole
recommended isolation period. If symptoms develop within or after the prescribed
period, the individual shall complete the required days of isolation depending on
the severity of symptoms.
2. All asymptomatic and partially vaccinated or unvaccinated confirmed cases, shall
isolate for at least IO days from sample collection date. Isolation can be discontinued
without the need for repeat testing, provided they have remained asymptomatic
during the whole recommended isolation period. If symptoms develop within or
after the prescribed period, the individual shall complete the required days of
isolation depending on the severity of symptoms.
3. All individuals with symptoms and suspect, probable, and confirmed cases
presenting with mild symptoms, including individuals under priority groups A2 and
A3 who are fully vaccinated, shall isolate for at least 7 days from onset of signs
and symptoms. Isolation can be discontinued without the need for repeat testing
upon completion of the recommended isolation period, provided that they do not
have fever for at least 24 hours without the use of any antipyretic medications,
and shall have improvement of respiratory signs and symptoms.
4. All individuals with symptoms and suspect, probable, and confirmed cases
presenting with mild and/or moderate symptoms, regardless of vaccination
status, including priority groups in A2 and A3 shall be isolated for at least 10 days
from onset of signs and symptoms. Isolation can be discontinued without the need
for repeat testing upon completion of the recommended isolation period,
provided no fever for at least 24 hours without the use of any antipyretic
medications, and shall have improvement of respiratory signs and symptoms.
5. All individuals with symptoms and suspect, probable, and confirmed cases
presenting with severe and critical symptoms, regardless of vaccination status,
shall be isolated for at least 21 days from onset of signs and symptoms.
Isolation can be discontinued without the need for repeat testing upon
completion of the recommended isolation period, provided that they do not
have fever for at least 24 hours without the use of any antipyretic medications,
and shall have improvement of respiratory signs and symptoms.
6. All symptomatic immunocompromised confirmed cases, with autoimmune disease, HIV,
uancer/malignancy, undergoing steroid treatment, transplant patients, and Patients
with poor prognosis or bed-ridden shall be isolated for at least 21 days from onset of
signs and symptoms, regardless of vaccination status.
Isolation can be discontinued upon completion of the recommended isolation period,
provided that they do not have fever for at least 24 hours without the use of any
antipyretic medications, and shall have improvement of respiratory signs and
symptoms. Repeat RT-PCR testing shall also be recommended for this group. If results
tum out negative, they may be discharged from isolation. If results tum out positive,
refer to an Infectious Disease Specialist who may issue clearance and discharge if
warranted.
Executive Order No. 05, s. 2022
Page 3____________________
C. TESTING PRIORITIZATION
1. Testing, especially using RT-PCR, shall be recommended and prioritized for instances
where the result of testing will affect the clinical management. Specifically, this will
include those who are at risk for developing severe disease such as Priority Groups A2
(persons above 60 years old) and A3 (persons with comorbidities).
2. Testing, especially using RT-PCR, shall also be recommended and prioritized for groups at
highest risk for infection such as Priority Group AI or healthcare workers as deemed
necessary.
3. Testing using Antigen tests shall be recommended only for symptomatic individuals and in
instances wherein RT-PCR is not available, consistent with previously issued guidelines.
4. Testing shall be optional for other groups not stated above, including for community level
actions wherein case management of probable and confirmed cases remain the same.
Specifically:
a. Testing shall NOT be recommended for asymptomatic close contacts. Instead,
symptom monitoring is recommended. Should testing still be used, testing should be
done at least 5 days from the day of last exposure.
b. Testing shall NOT be recommended for screening asymptomatic individuals.
D. LOCALIZATION OF QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION. All quarantined and isolated
individuals, including locally stranded individuals, are to be quarantined or isolated in the area in
which they are located instead of being transported to outside of their area of origin to undergo
quarantine or isolation.
SECTION 2. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. If any provision of this Executive Order is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid
and subsisting.
SECTION 3. EFFECTIVITY. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately and
shall remain in forced until otherwise revoked.
Done this 17th day of _January, 2022 in the Municipality of Malungon, Sarangani.
ATTY. MARIA THERESA D. CONSTANTINO
Municipal Mayor
