Bicol DOH: May we all carry out ‘new normal’ practices beyond pandemic

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol said that they hope that the measures being practiced by everyone to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), would be carried forward beyond the pandemic.

“After the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), our lives would be more planned,” said DOH Bicol Director Ernie Vera in a published statement on Sunday.

“We hope that we carry forward these practices, which we learned during the ECQ, in our everyday lives after this.”

Under the new normal, the priority should be strengthening the immune system to be able to fight off any illness, the region’s top doctor said.

“[DOH] believes that after this pandemic, there is more awareness on the importance of strong resistance and on the ways to make sure that it stays strong,” he said.

“There is more understanding of the importance of right diet, the importance of exercise, staying stress-free as much as possible; and the adverse effects of cigarette smoking and other unhealthy lifestyle,” he added.

DOH has been calling the anti-coronavirus practices during the pandemic crisis the “New Normal,” under which, they said, people should thoroughly wash hands for at least 20 seconds, wear masks whenever going outside, and observe safe distancing of at least one meter.

/MUF