Doctors’ group to public: Follow health protocols as local bets start campaigns

ADDED CHALLENGE | The Department of the Interior and Local Government remains reluctant to support calls to further ease pandemic restrictions in Metro Manila, citing the difficulty of enforcing minimum health protocols in public spaces, especially with the start of the official campaign season for candidates running in local elections. (Photo by MARIANNE BERMUDEZ / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the low number of COVID-19 infections, the public should be careful and not be complacent as the campaign period for local candidates kicks off on March 25, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) appealed on Thursday.

PMA president Benito Atienza noted that while 65 million Filipinos have completed the primary doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, some 45 million to 55 million have yet to get their booster shots since vaccines get less effective over time.

Atienza urged people following campaign trails to continue following minimum public health protocols like wearing masks, hand hygiene, and social distancing.

Those who are experiencing symptoms and who are immunocompromised and have comorbidities should skip going to grand rallies.

“Dapat sanayin pa rin natin ang mga mamamayan ‘yung minimum health protocol even sa campaign trails. ‘Wag na pumunta kung may ubo, sipon o lagnat kasi makakahawa kayo kahit hindi COVID,” Atienza said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

He said the public should remain vigilant against COVID-19 because the virus is unpredictable and many countries are still experiencing a surge of infections.

“Hindi natin alam kung anong mangyayari, ‘wag tayong maging kampante,” he said.

(We don’t know what’s going to happen, we should not be complacent.)

He also reminded people to be careful because the humid weather could cause skin problems and dehydration so they should only choose the activities they would attend.

“Sana pili lang ‘yung pupuntahan, sana ‘yung hindi matao,” Atienza said.

(I hope they choose where they will go, preferably those with not much crowding.)

The campaign for national candidates started on Feb. 8.

/MUF