Amid jam-packed campaign sorties, the Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, March 22, did not record nor observed any rise in the number of cases of Covid-19.
“Based on our surveillance and our close monitoring, we have not recorded nor observed any upticks in the number of cases especially in these areas when these campaign sorties are happening,” DOH spokesperson Usec. Maria Rosario S. Vergeire said during a press briefing.
The DOH official admitted that they were bothered by photos of campaign sorties wherein supporters have been spotted not practicing physical distancing.
“Pero sa kabilang banda kapag inisip natin, kung sana lahat ng pumupunta diyan ay bakunado, ‘yun pong ating pag-aagam-agam ay mababawasan because we know that vaccinated individuals will transmit less of this virus than those unvaccinated,” she added.
Even there is no recorded rise in cases, Vergeire reminded the public to always strictly observe health and safety protocols when attending campaign rallies.
“Huwag po ninyong tatanggalin ang mask niyo kapag pumupunta kayo sa ganyang campaign sortie, siguraduhin niyo po na kayo ay bakunado (Don’t remove your face masks whenever you are at campaign sorties and make sure that you are vaccinated),” the spokesperson said.
“At sana po, ang ating mga nakakatanda kung maari naman pong maiwasan natin na sumama pa sa ganitong mga campaign sortie para hindi na tayo magkasakit (Hopefully, our elderlies will no longer attend these campaign sorties in order for them not to get infected),” she added.
The campaign for candidates for president, senator, and party-list started on February 8.
Meanwhile, the campaign for candidates for the House of Representatives and elective provincial, city, and municipal officials.