Stay safe, have fun.
As the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to linger, the Department of Health (DOH) urged the public to celebrate the holidays safely despite the decreasing number of infections daily.
The DOH reminded Filipinos to not let their guards down as the Philippines enters the second holiday season in the face of the pandemic.
“We want everyone to practice healthier and safer options during the holiday season kasi alam natin kating-kati na tayong lahat (because we are all excited) to be with our families and our relatives,” said DOH Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Control Bureau Director Dr. Beverly Ho.
“So, because we all work hard to get to this point na medyo mababa na po iyong kaso natin at marami-rami na po iyong nabakunahan, puwedeng-puwede po tayong mag-celebrate but we encourage everyone to celebrate safely,” she added.
In order to celebrate the holidays, the DOH said the public should always remember these keywords: Bakuna, Airflow, Mask, Hugas, Iwas.
If the public is considering holding family gatherings, the DOH highly encouraged them to only allow fully vaccinated people to attend such activities.
“Para po sa 'Bakuna,' we encourage that when we do these celebrations, we allow only fully vaccinated individuals into the venue. This is also for our protection but as much, for the protection of the guests,” said Ho.
As for the Airflow aspect, Ho said that it is best to conduct activities outdoors.
“We encourage everyone to conduct their activities or their reunions or gatherings in outdoor areas and as much as possible we need to avoid indoor settings with poor ventilation,” she added.
“How do we make sure there is good ventilation? By opening doors, windows, electric and exhaust fans. You can use some of the gadgets that are available also to measure airflow,” she added.
Filipinos should also wear their protective gear such as face mask and face shield.
“As for ‘Mask,’ we encourage everyone to continue to wear the appropriate PPEs and only remove our mask when it’s time to eat. Pero kapag balik na sa celebration, sa mga palaro, then kailangan naka-mask na po (But when you go back to the celebration--- to the games, then you have to wear your mask again),” said Ho.
For the “Iwas” aspect, it means observing physical distance and not join the gatherings if you have symptoms related to COVID-19, said Ho.
“If you don’t feel well, please be considerate about other people. We also should avoid games or activities that will involve close contact interaction or those that involve loud singing, shouting or similar actions,” she said.
“Of course, we still prefer pre-packed or plated meals para hindi po tayo lahat nagga-gather habang kumukuha ng pagkain (so that we don't all gather while taking food),” she added.
Ho also emphasized the importance of handwashing. The public should practice frequent handwashing using soap and water and/or hand sanitizers.
“ make sure there are handwashing stations and hand sanitizers in the area,” she said.
The DOH also encouraged the public to limit the number of people who will attend their social gathering and as much as possible—make the activity short.
“While there has been a decreasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country, Filipinos are advised not to let their guards down and prioritize the health and safety of their families by practicing the minimum public health standards,” the DOH said.