DOH lets go of Duterte’s gasoline joke, says risk communications in place

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday chose not to dwell on President Rodrigo Duterte's "joke" that people could reuse their face masks by spraying them with Lysol or soaking them in gasoline.

During an online forum with reporters, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire was asked how such quips of high-level officials—not based on sound science—impact the DOH's communication efforts and if these could endanger public health.

"Oh well, you know our officials have that leeway din naman siguro. Paminsan-minsan nagkakamali tayo, nagjo-joke tayo para lang to ease 'yung parang masyado nang stressful ang pag-uusap," she responded.

"Kapag ganito naman, ang risk comm[unications] natin lagi is to provide the public with a clear message and the information that has to be provided should be very very specific," she added.

Earlier this week, Duterte instructed the public  how to reuse their face masks

"Maski na gamitin mo 'yan dalawang beses okay man, i-sprayan mo nalang ng alcohol... Pagkatapos ng araw, hang it somewhere i-sprayan mo ng Lysol if you can afford it. 'Yung wala, ibabad mo ng gasolina o diesel. Pu***g i** COVID-19 na 'yan, di uubra 'yan diyan," he said.

The DOH later on clarified that only cloth masks could be reused over and over as long as it is regularly being washed.

"Iyong mga surgical mask at N95 mask e single use only. Hindi mo 'yan puwede hugasan. Kasi 'pag hinugasan mo 'yan, may mga components ‘yang mask na certain filtering mechanism. Kapag hinugasan mo o binasa mo 'yan, mawawala na ang effect nu'n. Hindi na siya magiging effective in filtering these viruses," Vergeire said.

Malacañang on Thursday said Duterte was only joking when he said that face masks can be disinfected through gasoline. — RSJ, GMA News