MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday clarified that it never prohibited actress Angel Locsin from donating misting tents, saying that said donations were removed from the Philippine General Hospital because it may pose harm on people.
“Ito pong misting tents sa PGH ay binigay po through the donation ni Ms. Angel Locsin… she was not prohibited from making donations of misting tents by DOH, hindi po siya pinagbawalan, contrary po dun sa lumalabas ngayon,” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a virtual press briefing on Monday.
(These misting tents in PGH are donated by Ms. Angel Locsin…she was not prohibited from making donations of misting tents by DOH contrary to reports circulating recently).
A donation of misting tent made by the actress to the Philippine General Hospital was recently removed by the hospital administration following the directive of the DOH against misting and spraying of disinfectants.
“Napagutos na po ng pamunuan ng Philippine General Hospital na tanggalin na po ang misting tents mula nung narinig po nila ang anunsyo ng Department of Health,” Vergeire said.
(The management of the Philippine General Hospital has instructed the removal of misting tents after they heard the announcement of the Department of Health).
The DOH earlier cautioned against spraying or misting disinfectants as there is no evidence that it kills the virus.
It added that misting can also cause pathogens to be dispersed during spraying and such practices could also result in skin irritation and inhalation of chemicals.
Vergeire noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) had also recently dismissed the effectivity of misting on killing the virus that causes the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
WHO, she added, also cited the harmful effects of misting to people’s health.
Misting tents for health workers stay
Amid the backlash the DOH received for its late announcement on misting, Vergeire clarified that misting tents used by healthcare workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) have not been removed.
“Ang mga misting tents po na ating pinagbawalan ay yun pong magkakaroon ng harmful effects sa ating mga kababayan kapag ginawa po na directly sa kanila,” Vergeire said.
(The misting tents that we prohibited are those who will pose harm if they are done directly).
“Pero yung misting tents na ginagamit ng ating healthcare workers, lalung lalo na pagka sila ay naka-PPE, ay nagagamit pa rin at nandun pa rin sa ating mga facilities,” she added.
(But the misting tents used by healthcare workers, especially those wearing PPE, are still in use and are still in our facilities).
According to Vergeire, the DOH has already reached out to Locsin regarding the misting tents.
“Siya po ay sumusunod sa mga pamantayan at protocol ng Department of Health pagdating sa mga dino-donate niyang mga produkto o mga equipment or supplies so dahil diyan po napapasalamat po kami sa lahat po ng nagbibigay ng mga nagdo-donate,” she said.
(She is following the standards and protocols set by the Department of Health when it comes to donating products or equipment or supplies so that’s why we are thankful to all those who are donating).
Locsin, known for her advocacy of aiding victims of violence, natural disasters, and the conflict in Mindanao, has so far raised over P10 million for donations for the country’s COVID-19 response.