‘No face to face caroling’ - DOH

Manila, Philippines – Caroling this year is being discouraged by the Department of Health to avoid the further escalation of the Covid-19 virus infection.

DOH Secretary Francisco Duque told in a weekly kapihan with media on November 5 that a study done by Alsved, et al. revealed that loud singing increases viral particle spread by 448 percent.

This is the reason why the public should avoid such activities during the holidays and focus on guarding their health and safety including their loved ones.

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire further reiterated this during a radio interview with DZMM Teleradyo on Monday.

Vergeire said that it is still up to the Inter-Agency Task Force-Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to decide regarding the issue.

Meantime, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said on Tuesday that he prefers online caroling as personal and face-to-face activities are not ideal nowadays.

“Kung magkakaroon ng caroling, online caroling na lang pero iyong personal at face-to-face sa ngayon, hindi pa muna nararapat,” he said.

However, as told by Año, as of now caroling is not banned yet because no resolution is crafted regarding it and he is yet to recommend the idea to the Inter-Agency Task Force.

Earlier, the DILG Secretary said that he will be recommending to the IATF the ban on mass singing which includes choir and caroling as these activities require removal of facemasks during the performance causing possible transmission of the virus.

DOH Circular No. 2020-0355 dated October 30 also advised the public to limit face-to-face interactions, avoid traveling to higher quarantine classified areas and vice versa and prohibition of buffet-style food service as well as sharing of household items during the celebration of the Christmas.

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