DOH warns against in-person voting for COVID-19 patients

The Department of Health on Friday advised against allowing COVID-19 patients to vote in person in the May 2022 elections, fearing further transmission of the coronavirus.

In an online briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to explore other options such as digital voting for coronavirus-infected individuals.

“Hindi po natin inirerekomenda na ang COVID-positive patients ay lalabas  po ng kanilang isolation area to do these kinds of activities because these might have some form of transmission and infect other people,” she said.

(We do not recommend that COVID-positive patients be allowed to leave the isolation areas to do these kinds of activities because these might have some form of transmission and infect other people.)

Last week, Comelec Chairperson Sheriff Abas said they would set up isolation areas where COVID-19 patients can cast their ballots.

But Abas said it would be a different case for the poll servers, as they will not be allowed to serve in the elections should they test positive for COVID-19.

Abas said the Comelec has been coordinating with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to finalize the guidelines for the upcoming polls. —LBG, GMA News