DOH to public: Don’t harass, discriminate vs recovered COVID-19 patients

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday appealed to the public to stop harassing and discriminating against people who have recovered from COVID-19, a highly contagious respiratory ailment caused by coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

“Kami po at ang Presidential Communication and Operation Office (PCOO) ay nakikiusap sa ating mga kababayan na itigil na po ang pagha-harass at pagdi-discriminate sa ating COVID-19 survivors,” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an online press conference.

(We and the PCOO are appealing to our countrymen to stop harassment and discrimination against COVID-19 survivors.)

Vergeire disclosed receiving reports of discrimination not only against COVID-19 patients but also patients who recovered from the disease.

“Huwag naman sana na iparamdam sa kanila na matapos ang laban nila sa virus ay may panibagong laban pa silang haharapin,” she said.

(Let us not make them feel that even after battling the virus, they will face another battle.)

As of April 18, DOH said it has recorded 29 more recovered patients, bringing the country’s total number of recoveries to 516. It also said it has documented an additional 209 people found positive for the new virus and that the latest count of infection in the country is now 6,087.

KGA