DOH discourages use of personal air purifiers vs. COVID-19

After Cebu ordered public utility drivers to use personal air purifiers, the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday discouraged the use of such device as protection from COVID-19 for lack of scientific evidence.

At a briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire reiterated that the DOH has long warned against the use of personal air purifiers.

“Sinabi na po natin dati ‘yan, na wala po ‘yang ebidensya. Bagamat hindi po ito nakaka-cause ng harm sa isang tao, pero hindi rin po siya nakakapagbigay ng proteksyon laban sa COVID-19,” she said in a briefing.

(We have said it before, that there is no evidence to support that. Although this will not cause harm, it will also not give protection against COVID-19.)

“It will give that false security to our kababayans na baka magkaroon ng complacency because of this and baka lalo pa tayong magkaroon ng impeksyon,” she added.

(It will give that false security to our countrymen. There might be complacency because of this and might lead to more infections.)

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia earlier ordered drivers of public utility vehicles in the province to use personal air purifiers. Her memorandum took effect on Monday. 

Transport group PISTON Cebu slammed the order as a “bandaid solution.”

“What the people need now is to hasten the distribution of free and safe vaccines, and free swab testing,” it said in a statement.

The Philippines has logged over 1.74 million COVID-19 cases with 1.61 million recoveries and 30,340 deaths as of Sunday afternoon. — RSJ, GMA News