DOH urges people to stay healthy, exercise inside homes

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday urged the public to stay healthy and exercise inside their homes amid the extended enhanced community quarantine.

“Sa tuwing minumungkahi namin na mag-exercise para palakasin ang resistensya, ang ibig po naming sabihin ay ehersisyo sa loob ng ating bahay hangga’t makakaya,” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire when asked during an online press briefing if fitness centers and gyms should be reopened to allow people to exercise.

(When we say we should exercise to boost the immune system, what we mean is exercise inside our houses as much as we can.)

Vergeire said DOH has no recommendation to the government to let fitness centers and similar establishments to resume operations during the extended enhanced community quarantine because these places may likely cause transmission of the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19.

“Marami namang workout na maaaring gawin sa loob ng ating tahanan,” she added.

(There are many workouts we can do inside our houses.)

Metro Manila and other “high-risk” areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao will remain under enhanced community quarantine until May 15, as approved by President Rodrigo Duterte, to control the spread of the new virus.

KGA