DOH discourages public videoke sessions during holiday season

MANILA, Philippines — As the holiday season nears, the Department of Health (DOH) is discouraging public videoke sessions to prevent possible COVID-19 transmission.

In the Laging Handa online press briefing on Saturday, DOH Undersecretary and spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire cited studies showing the high viral load transmission in singing.

“So syempre, pag may mga ganito pong ebidensya, ang Department of Health po, because we base our recommendations on science and evidence, sinasabi natin na hindi muna natin maire-rekomenda na itong videoke [bars] ay mabuksan natin,” Vergeire said.

(Of course, if this is backed by recommendations on science and evidence, the Department of Health is saying that we cannot recommend the reopening of videoke bars.)

“Although sa mga pami-pamilya lang na hindi naman lumalabas, maari naman natin ‘yan payagan. Pero ‘yun pong mga pang-malawakan, mga party po ng magkakaibigan, baka po dapat iwasan po muna natin iyon,” she later added.

(Although when it comes to family, those who do not go outside, it is alright. But those in public, those in parties with friends, it is best to avoid this for the meantime.)

Previously, the DOH also pushed to make use of online activities for a safer celebration of the Christmas season due to the threat brought by COVID-19.

As of Nov. 6, the Philippines now has 391,809 COVID-19 cases, with 349,974 recoveries and 7,461 deaths.

/MUF