Ex-DOH chief Garin warns vs. kissing amid COVID-19 spread

Love in the time of COVID-19 means doing away with kissing one's spouse or partner when showing such symptoms as cough, colds, sore throat or fever, a former Secretary of Health said on Wednesday.

At a committee hearing at the House of Representatives, Iloilo Representative Janette Garin said kissing was actually "dirty."

“Kung ikaw ay may ubo, masakit ang lalamunan, lagnat, sipon, huwag halikan ang asawa, boyfriend o girlfriend,” Garin said during the hearing on the government's response to the spread of COVID-19 in the Philippines.

“Huwag po tayo mahiya na sabihin na while kissing is enjoyed by some, kissing is actually dirty,” she added.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said social distancing or keeping others at arm’s length should be good enough to avoid being infected with the virus.

“Kung one arm length na social distance, magiging sapat na po ito pansamantala,” Duque said.

House Deputy Minority Leader Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna, however, said that social distancing would only be viable for the middle class and the rich.

“Napakadali niyan sa middle class, mayayaman, kasi hindi ka lang pupunta ng malls, bars. Paano iyong mga urban poor na nakita sa mga informal settlements? Iyong laging pumipila sa MRT?” Zarate added.

Duque said parameters of social distancing should vary.

“Naiintindihan po natin na mahirap po ang hamon, kaya makikipagugnayan po tayo kung paano tayo makakatulong sa vulnerable populations para sa karagdagang masks at protective gear,” Duque said. —NB, GMA News