DOH on stadium packed with LSIs: Nakakalungkot na nangyayari ito

The government's move to gather locally stranded individuals (LSIs) in Rizal Memorial Sports Stadium violated social distancing protocols and put the people at risk of being infected with COVID-19, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said Monday, as she expressed sadness over the incident.

“Nakakalungkot na nangyayari ito. We have relayed protocol sa specific  agencies, reminders na bawal ang mass gathering, pero nangyayari pa rin ito sa ating mga kababayan. Bawal ang mass gathering, kahit saan, iyan po dapat ang pinakamahigpit na pinatutupad, kasama iyong minimum health standards [na] dapat nasusunod,” Vergeire said at a virtual press briefing.

She said they have already relayed the incident to the Department of the Interior and Local Government and other concerned government agencies and expects it to be tackled by the government's COVID-19 task force.

The government also drew flak for bringing in a Philippine National Police band to serenade the LSIs inside the jampacked venue, given that the members of the band had to remove their face masks to be able to play their wind instruments.

Vergeire, however, said that it is the violation of social distancing and mass gathering prohibition, not the presence of the PNP band, that placed the LSIs and members of the band at risk of being infected with COVID-19.

“Di naman po ito (playing of instruments) nakakapanghawa. Iyong sa physical distancing talaga. We saw yesterday na kailangan talaga may physical distancing,” she said.

The Philippines has recorded 80,448 cases so far. Of this number, 26,110 have recovered while 1,932 died. —KBK, GMA News