Christmas nights will become silent as the government intends to prohibit caroling this holiday season as a precaution against the spread of the new coronavirus disease.
Chief Implementer of the National Plan against COVID-19 Carlito Galvez Jr. announced on Wednesday that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has decided to impose a ban on the traditional Christmas caroling.
"Sinabi na nga ng IATF na iyong caroling, talaga pong ipinagbabawal natin (The IATF ruled that we will prohibit caroling),” Galvez, also the country’s vaccine czar, said during the Laging Handa public briefing Wednesday.
The task force has yet to issue a resolution on the latest prohibition.
Galvez said the pandemic task force is expected to hold a meeting on Thursday to tackle health preparations for the upcoming Christmas celebration in the country. He noted that public is encouraged to keep the celebrations simple, safe and healthy to avoid any surge in the coronavirus cases.
"Huwag na po tayong masyadong magkaroon ng magarbong mga selebrasyon kasi nakikita po natin na ito po ay magiging cause ng spread ng ating virus (At the same, let us not have a grand celebration because we see that it may cause the spread of the virus)," he said.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire recently discouraged groups from singing Christmas carols due to concerns about possible increase in coronavirus transmission. Vergeire said the singing aloud has bigger virus yield compared to ordinary talking or breathing.