The Department of Health (DOH) warned the public not to be complacent against the threat of COVID-19 because the pandemic is still not over — this is after the latest announcement by the World Health Organization (WHO).
It’s been a few days since the WHO declared that the public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) related to the deadly COVID-19, which has been rising since January 2020, is over.
“Ang gusto ko lamang pong ibahagi sa ating kababayan that part of the discussions yesterday, unang-una ni-reiterate natin: ang public health emergency of international concern na ini-lift ng WHO is not equated to the pandemic,” said DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire.
“So even though the WHO has already lifted the public health emergency of international concern status, hindi ho nila sinabing tapos na ang pandemya.”
All this is happening now that the cases of COVID-19 are increasing again in the Philippines. There are currently 12,161 active cases of the virus today.
Despite this, the DOH does not recommend the return of the mandatory wearing of face masks as the economy opens up and most restrictions have been lifted.
It is said that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases held talks with the DOH this Monday and has already given recommendations to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. regarding possible changes in national policies following the WHO declaration.
DOH reminds public pandemic not yet over
However, the contents of such meetings remain “confidential.”
Some are now worried about the WHO declaration on how it will affect health rules and free vaccinations against COVID-19. However, Vergeire clarified that WHO’s global declaration differs from the Philippines’ public health emergency or state of emergency regarding the virus.
He said that what is in place now will continue to be implemented as the teaching of the second booster shots against COVID-19 begins to roll out to the general adult population.
“Kaya gusto ho nating paalalahanan ang ating mga kababayan na even though the public health emergency of international concern has been lifted we cannot be complacent at this point. Kailangan tuloy-tuloy pa rin tayong magmatyag,” said Vergeire.
“We are vigilant at kailangan palagi pa rin tayong aware. Alam natin kung anong gagawin natin kung paano proproteksyunan ang ating sarili pati na po ang ating mga kamag-anak.”
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