MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sonny Angara has filed a resolution discouraging handshakes and seeking to promote hand hygiene to curb the spread of infectious diseases, bacteria, and viruses as the country battles with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Angara filed Senate Resolution No. 374 “expressing the sense of the Senate to discourage handshaking as it poses danger in health and can escalate the spread of virus and germs.”
The senator noted that despite the “social graces” associated with handshakes, it still poses “significant health risks.”
“A study conducted by the American Journal of Infection Control revealed that handshakes transfer most of E. coli bacteria as compared with fist bumps and high fives,” Angara’s resolution read.
It was late last year when a new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, was discovered in Wuhan City located in China’s Hubei province.
“As a result, a pandemic was declared in a matter of months, infecting millions and killing thousands all over the world,” Angara said.
Due to threats posed by the pandemic, the public is being discouraged not to shake hands as a form of greeting to prevent any further spread of the new coronavirus.
“(The coronavirus) can be easily transmitted from one person to another when virus-infected droplets are released to the air or onto surfaces through sneezes or coughs,” the resolution noted.
“These droplets may reach the nose, mouth, or eyes of a person as he or she touches contaminated objects and surfaces, or comes into sustained close contact with somebody who has been infected. They may also be spread as a carrier exchanges a handshake with others,” it added.
Responding to the rise of COVID-19 cases in the country, the government has imposed strict social distancing measures and had placed Metro Manila and other provinces under an enhanced community quarantine.
To date, Philippine health officials have confirmed 7,958 COVID-19 cases in the country.
Of the number, 975 have recovered while 530 have died.