MANILA, April 5 ----- The Department of Health on Tuesday urged Filipinos to wear face masks in crowded spaces amid the threat of COVID-19 as the Catholic faithful observe Holy Week.
The Philippines loosened its mask-wearing rule last year following a decrease in infection levels. "Marami po sa ating kababayan they chose to go to Mass. So, marami hong tao sa mga simbahan... Mag-mask po tayo kapag maraming tao sa isang lugar para tayo ay protektado pa rin," DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing. Vergeire also asked the public to get vaccinated and have booster doses. Holy Week, which falls from April 2 (Palm Sunday) to April 9 (Easter Sunday), is the most important week on the Christian liturgical calendar.
The health agency recorded a 29-percent increase in COVID-19 cases in the past week, in which the country logged an average daily case of 268. But Vergeire noted the uptick was not a cause for concern, adding that hospital admissions were still manageable."In spite of meron tayong kaunting pagtaas sa iba't ibang bahagi ng bansa, ang ating mga ospital remains to be manageable," she added. The acting health chief also advised devotees to avoid kissing images of saints to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19. "Siguro po pinakamaganda hawakan natin 'yung poon at tayo na lang ay maglagay sa ating dibdib kaysa idikit natin ang ating labi dun sa ating mga poon na maaari din pong maka-cause ng pagkakahawa-hawa," Vergeire said.
The DOH also discouraged the public against self-flagellation and crucifixion, which some Catholics include in their penance on Good Friday. Vergeire such traditions could lead to tetanus and other infections.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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