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Vaccination, cash aid lines possible 'super spreader' events - DOH

Philippines | National

Vaccination, cash aid lines possible 'super spreader' events - DOH

By Leslie Ann Aquino

The Department of Health (DOH) believed that local government units (LGUs) should implement proper scheduling of distributing cash assistance or administering the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines to avoid crowding in venues.

This as the department expressed concern of such activities becoming "super spreader" events.

"This is a possible super spreader event, especially those in crowded areas and are in enclosed spaces," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a virtual forum Wednesday, April 14.

Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire — Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

"We have already brought it to the attention of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). We have been flagging such instances we have been seeing," she added.

Meanwhile, Vergeire said they have yet to observe any decline in COVID-19 cases in the country despite the recent imposition of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

"We are not seeing a reduction in cases. We are still averaging 10,000 to 11,000 cases per day. We foresee that this may still persist in the coming days," she said

The Health official also said that they do not expect any surge in cases in the next few months.

"We have not received any projection. But we are working on different assumptions, not just for the mid-year but until the end of the year," said Vergeire.

With regard to National Task Force (NTF) against COVID -19 chief implementer Sec. Carlito Galvez statement on possible surge in COVID cases in June or July, she believes it was taken out of context.

"What he is saying is that we must always be ready for any possible circumstances that cases will rise again in the coming months," Vergeire said.

"This is why the government continues to improve whatever capacity we have when it comes to our health system," she added.

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