A child accompanied by adults wears face mask and face shield for protection from the coronavirus as they visit a mall in Quezon City in this photo taken on December 1, 2020.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos may see a “better” Christmas celebration this year compared to 2021, following the improvements in the COVID-19 situation in the country, a fellow of independent pandemic monitor Octa Research Group said Thursday.
Dr. Butch Ong said the country’s COVID-19 vaccination rate is currently high, and the public is now “more attuned” to health protocols. Also, current COVID infections are generally mild and asymptomatic.
With this, the Philippines is looking to celebrate a better Christmas.
“Maaaring mas maganda ang ating kapaskuhan ngayong taong ito,” Ong said during an interview in Laging Handa press briefing.
(We may have a better Christmas this year.)
He, however, still cautioned the public to strictly follow the existing health protocols and safety measures against COVID-19.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has recommended the voluntary use of face masks outdoors.
Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge and Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier said the recommendation got President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “verbal approval.”
However, Vergeire noted that the proposal is not yet a policy, citing the need to put this in a “legal instrument” such as an executive order.
As of Wednesday, the Philippines posted 3,896,541 cases, with 22,899 remaining active cases, based on the DOH’s COVID-19 tracker. — Christian Paul Dela Cruz, INQUIRER.net trainee
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