BY BETHEENA UNITE
Resort to other ways of shopping for the holidays and thanking donors during relief operations in order to avoid risks caused by physical contact amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Health said Monday.
Shoppers were encouraged to continue practicing minimum health standards like wearing a face mask, face shield, and maintaining physical distance while in a crowded place.
Over the weekend, photographs of a crowded Divisoria surfaced online prompting the health department to issue anew reminders to the public on the risks being in a crowded area pose.
If it can’t be helped to shop, the public was told to just resort to online shopping.
“Gusto ko lang paalalahanan ang mga kababayan na alam natin na sabik na tayo magpunta sa mall, sabik na mamili sa mga pampasko natin, alalahanin natin andyan pa din ang virus,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
“Ang virus ay mas maihahawa sa mga tao kapag nandun sa mga lugar na siksikan. Kaya nga hanggang ngayon ang mga mass gathering, ang IATF talagang hindi pa din binibigyang laya ng 100 percent dahil alam natin andyan pa din ang threat ng virus sa atin,” Vergeire added.
The health official also stressed that wearing a facemask and face shield won’t spare you from being infected if you are in a crowded place where proper physical distancing is not practiced.
“The risk is there. It is very high. Kaya sana iwasan ang pagpunta sa mataong lugar kung maari po,” Vergeire urged.
“Kung sakaling kailangan mamili na talaga, maaring magkaroon ng ibang pamamaraan para magkaroon ng ganitong activities. Gusto lang natin ipaalala na ang risk ay napakalaki ‘pag tayo ay nagpupunta sa mga lugar na maraming tao gaya ng sa Divisoria,” she added. (Betheena Unite)
