DOH maintains COVID-19 is transmitted via respiratory droplets

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday maintained that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is transmitted through respiratory droplets amid circulation of online information that the virus may linger in the air in some situations.

"I-qualify po natin ito para maintindihan ng ating mga kababayan. Ito pong artikulong ito, ang tinutukoy po nila ay mga setting ng isang ospital," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing.

"Katulad po ng lagi nating sinasabi, ang sa atin po, sa ebidensiya pa rin hanggang sa ngayon na nakukuha base sa ating mga expert, ito pong sakit na COVID-19 is still transmitted through droplet infection. 'Yung airborne po na sinasabi is in a confined hospital setting," she added.

It has been reported earlier this week that the World Health Organization is considering "airborne precautions" for healthcare workers, especially when performing some medical procedures.

"When you do an aerosol-generating procedure like in a medical care facility, you have the possibility to what we call aerosolize these particles, which means they can stay in the air a little bit longer,” Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, head of the WHO's Emerging Diseases unit, said in a recent press conference.

"And in that situation, in health care facilities, it is very important that health care workers take additional precaution when they’re working on patients and doing those procedures," she added.

The DOH urged the public to observe social distancing, proper cough etiquette, and frequent hand-washing to avoid contracting the virus.

Those with mild symptoms or not showing any symptoms at all were urged to subject themselves to home quarantine instead of going to hospitals.

"Mas tataas ang risk ng pagkakahawa-hawa ng populasyon kung pati po 'yung mild at asymptomatic ay nasa ospital din at naghihintay kasama ng mga posible na may COVID-19," Vergeire said.—AOL, GMA News