‘Repeat swab test before quarantine discharge’Residents with close contact to COVID-19 patients submit themselves to antigen test at a testing center in Brgy. MANILA, Philippines — Following the detection of three local cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) is recommending the repeat swabbing of cases before they are discharged from quarantine. Repeat swabbing is being done only among those who have already tested for any “variant of concern” of COVID-19.Since there are now local cases of Omicron variant in the country, however, the DOH is recommending a “repeat” test through reverse transcript polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) after the completion of quarantine. She also underscored that individuals who have completed the quarantine are still instructed to undergo home isolation when they are discharged from the quarantine facilities. She added that such protocol is temporary while cases of the Omicron variant are not that many.

Source: Philippine Star January 01, 2022 17:13 UTC