The policies of the Department of Health (DOH) on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic are based on scientific evidence, an official of the DOH said on Friday.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire urged personalities in the country to help the DOH in spreading the right information when it comes to COVID-19.
“I just like to ask the help of our partners--all those stakeholders, lahat po ng kinikilala ng tao dito sa ating bansa, sana po po makatulong po naman kayo sa pagpapakalap ng tamang impormasyon ,” said Vergeire in a press briefing.
“Lahat ng ipinapatupad at binibigay ng DOH sa mga tao is based on science and is based on evidence ,” she noted.
The Health official made the statement in response to lawyer Larry Gadon. The latter said that the DOH is scaring people and decried the policies with regards to basic precautionary measures.
Gadon, in an interview said: “Para sa akin kalabisan na yung either naka face shield ka o naka face mask ka. Hindi ako naniniwala sa DOH...Sa totoo lang ang COVID curable. Sobrang pananakot ang ginawa sa atin ng DOH. Tumigil ang ekonomiya natin dahil sa sobrang pananakot na iyan .”
“Hindi ako naniniwala sa kanila. Kahit pa sabihin nila na hindi ako doktor, kahit na. Marami akong nababasa tungkol sa COVID ,” he added.
Vergeire said that such statements may affect the government’s response against COVID-19.
“Let us try not to mislead people with these remarks. Kasi po baka lalong kumalat ang impeksyon, maapektuhan po ang sambayanang Pilipino ,” said Vergeire.
The Health official reiterated that the use of face masks helps in reducing the spread of COVID-19.
“You can hear the international experts and even WHO (World Health Organization), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), about the basis, studies, and evidence regarding the use of masks,” said Vergeire.
“That is why (we are) recommending them so we can protect people and we can prevent further infection,” she added.
The DOH will still continue to remind people of the importance of minimum health standards, especially during this time of pandemic.
“We respect the opinion of everybody. We have been receiving all these types of comments for the past months na tayo ay lumalaban dito COVID-19 na ito (we are fighting against this COVID-19),” said Vergeire.