Keep COVID-19 at bay, limit Christmastime gatherings, defer travel plans — DOH

Catholic devotees attend the first dawn mass or traditional “Simbang Gabi” at San Felipe Neri Parish, Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City on December 16, 2019. The Department of Health  is urging the public to attend online masses instead to help curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)NIÑO JESUS ORBETA/PDI

MANILA, Philippines — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III is urging the public to limit their family celebrations at home with immediate family members, attend online mass services instead, and defer plans to return to their home provinces this coming Christmas and New Year.

“Una, yung pagdiriwang dapat limitado sa immediate family members at sa tahanan na lamang,” Duque said Monday in a televised briefing.

(First, the celebrations should be limited to immediate family members and be held only at home.)

Duque warned that the risk of contracting the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) increases when they mingle with family members from other areas.

He also encouraged the use of teleconferencing instead to meet other family members.

“At ‘yun pong pagsisimba dapat online na rin po,” Duque said.

(Attending mass services should be done online.)

“Ipagpaliban po ninyo yung inyo pong kagustuhan na pumunta po sa mga probinsya dahil mas maigi gaya ng sinabi ko po, ang department circular na inilabas ng DOH [Department of Health] ay malinaw po kung ano na lang po ang inyong low risk activities na dapat gawin,” he added.

(Defer plans to go to provinces because just like what I said in the department circular released by the DOH, it is clear that there are certain low-risk activities that you can do.)

In the said department circular, the DOH encouraged the public to limit the number of people in gatherings and avoid activities that may include traveling.

Earlier, Duque warned the public against complacency during the holiday season as this could result in an increase in COVID-19 cases.

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