The Department of Health (DoH) appealed to the faithful to strictly follow the minimum public health standards while attending the “Simbang Gabi” (dawn Mass) as such have a tendency to become COVID-19 “superspreader” events.
“We cannot overemphasize the need to follow the minimum health protocols at all times. Moreover, gatherings like Simbang Gabi can easily become superspreader events,” the DoH said.
In a press briefing Friday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire urged church officials to ensure that health protocols are being implemented inside church premises.
“We will strengthen our coordination with the Catholic Church to enforce minimum health standards inside churches, especially now that there are more people frequently attending masses because of the Simbang Gabi,” she added.
The DoH said that the “government is preparing for a post holiday surge and it is best to avoid events that could overwhelm our health system and capacity to respond as a whole.”
A superspreader event is where the transmission of the virus is amplified or “a single person transmits the virus to a disproportionately large number of contacts,” the DoH had said.
The DoH reminded those who are physically attending the Simbang Gabi to observe physical distancing of at least one meter apart from other person; proper wearing of face mask and face shield at all times while in public places; limit the length of the activity or exposure; and ensure adequate ventilation in the venues.
“As much as possible, reduce contact rate or avoid exposure to the virus by attending online masses instead of in-person gathering,” the DoH said.
Last Thursday, Vergeire warned the public that new cases of COVID-19 in Metro Manila alone may reach 4,000 daily during and after the holiday season if interventions are not properly implemented.
Meanwhile, the DoH recorded 2,122 new COVID-19 cases Friday, pushing the national caseload to 456,562.
Quezon City has the highest number of new infections with 160, followed by Rizal with 105, Bulacan with 91, Makati City with 83, and Davao City with 79.
This is the first time since Nov. 29 which had 2,076 that the country had 2,000 COVID cases in a day.
The number of recoveries increased to 420,666 with 778 more survivors. The death toll jumped to 8,875 after 25 more patients died.
There are only 27,021 active cases or those who are still ill nationwide – 84 percent are mild, eight percent asymptomatic, 0.31 percent moderate, 2.5 percent severe, and 5.1 percent critical.
