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DOH exec: Fear of income loss a possible deterrent to early consultation


Some Filipinos may be hesitant to seek medical attention when they develop COVID-19 symptoms out of fear of losing their income during the mandatory isolation period, a health official said Tuesday.

Dr. Alethea De Guzman, chief epidemiologist of the Department of Health, said it takes up to 12 days after experiencing COVID-19 symptoms for some people to seek medical consultation or testing.

She said one factor behind the delay is the tendency to “set aside” mild symptoms like fever, cough, and colds.

Another factor, De Guzman added, is the concern about going into quarantine or isolation.

“‘Paano kapag ako ay naging symptomatic, kailangan mag-isolate ako. Papaano ‘pag na-test ako, magiging positibo ako, mag-i-isolate ako, pa’no ‘yung work ko, pa’no ‘yung income ko,’” she said at an online forum.

(‘If I become symptomatic or test positive for COVID-19, I would need to isolate myself. What about my work, my income?’)

“That’s why we’re appealing to our employers, to our agencies concerned with our labor force, that we really need to be able to have mechanisms in place so that hindi magiging deterrent ‘yung possible loss of income or employment sa pagpapatingin at 'yung pagsunod ng at least 10 days na isolation or at least 14 days na quarantine [the possible loss of income or employment will not deter consultation and isolation or quarantine].”

An epidemiologist previously urged the public to seek COVID-19 testing earlier, stressing that more people could become infected if health seeking is delayed. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/778497/public-urged-to-seek-covid-19-testing-earlier/story/?just_in

The Philippines has tallied 1,149,925 infections with 1,076,428 recoveries and 19,262 deaths as of Monday afternoon. -MDM, GMA News

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