Republic of the Philippines

Department of Health
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

__
18 May 2020

DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR
No. 2020 - OA06

TO: ALL__UNDERSECRETARIES AND ASSISTANT_SECRETARIES;

DIRECTORS OF BUREAUS, SERVICES, AND CENTERS FOR
HEALTH DEVELOPMENT; MINISTER OF HEALTH —

BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM __.

MINDANAO); EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS _OF SPECIALTY

HOSPITALS AND NATIONAL NUTRITION COUNCIL; CHIEFS OF
MEDICAL CENTERS, HOSPITALS, SANITARIA AND INSTITUTES:
PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE
CORPORATION; DIRECTORS OF PHILIPPINE NATIONAL AIDS
COUNCIL AND TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION CENTERS
AND ALL OTHERS CONCERNED

SUBJECT: Reiteration of the Interim Guidelines on the Return-to-Work During the

Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) Health Situation

With the recent Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious
Diseases (IATF) recommendations of imposing transitional community quarantine measures,
and the subsequent opening of certain industries, the Department of Health reiterates the
IATF Omnibus Guidelines for Community Quarantine that testing of all returning workers
is not a requirement precedent to
his or her return.

Furthermore, the Department emphasizes that implementing non-pharmaceutical

interventions and other minimum health standards in the workplace is of paramount
importance, as stated in the Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Labor and
Employment Joint Interim Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and Control of COVID-19.

The DOH also underscores that screening of returning workers shall be based on symptoms
and/or exposure. For guidance, an algorithm for screening of returning employees, adopted
from the Unified COVID-19 Algorithm of the Philippine Medical Society for Microbiology
and Infectious Diseases, may be found in Annex A.

Dissemination of this information to all concerned is requested.

ISCO DUQUE Ul, MD, MSc

/fT.

Seqyetary of Health

Building 1, San Lazaro Compound, Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz, 1003 Manila # Trunk Line 651-7800 local 1108, 1111, 1112, 1113
Direct Line: 711-9502; 711-9503 Fax: 743-1829 @ URL: http://www.doh.gov.ph; e-mail: ftduque@doh.gov.ph
>
Annex A. Algorithm for Screening Returning Employees and Workers

Worker contemplating
return to work
5
Exposure by Residence
-
locality where there is sustained
Stays in a
community level transmission
4
Vulnerable Workforce
- Health and safety committee,
FOOTNOTES human resources, line managers,
Previous case ss and other key people to work.
or suspect? Exposure by Contact
Providing direct care to suspect,
1. together to address possible risks
probable, or confirmed COVID-19 with engineering and
patients without using proper PPE administrative controls
4 Vv (ie. healthcare workers); - High risk pregnancy, 60 y/o and
2. Face-to-face contact with a probable above, any age with
Secure Certificate of

i
Exposure by or confirmed case within 1 meter and co-morbidities, or pre-existing
close contact® 14-day Quarantine
or travel? Completion 3 inore 15Us)
Sect Ep Yetee Comer walith a ack illness (hypertension, diabetes,
asthma, COPD, cancer, blood
or
fe

probable confirmed case; OR

4, Other situation as indicated by local dyscrasia, chronic liver, and kidney
NO
diseases, or with
Y 2

risk asessments
5 b immunocompromised status)

Exposure
,
iB
Exposure Travel Travel from a
by

country/area where there is sustained

- - Medical clearance from attending
physician and/or Occupational
by residence? community level transmission to an area Health Physicial when needed
wi ith no sustained community transmission
©
alternative Workplace Accomodation
6 ww.
8 - Encourage work from home

ie
7
- Skeletal workforce
YES
.
Consider
Shelter in place
al

Lives in area with Vulnerable pemmative ~

>
no transmission workforce®? odstion® - Shift work
aceon t

re
Symptoms
NO a; Sore throat, body pains, headache,
8 fever, including other flu-like

Symptoms’ in YES symptoms (cough, colds, body

malaise, fatigue)
the last 14 days?

11

ee
10
YES Isolate and repeat
te
non-contact thermal
‘i

PEGs scan after 5 minutes

NO L 13

Repeat Stay home until

temperature asymptomatic for
>37.5C%? 14 days

4a No
U——_§ CLEAR FOR WORK

f OfficialDOHgov vy @DOHgovph @dohgov.ph (02) 894-COVID / 1555