DOH discourages 'talsik laway' activities during holiday season

The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday discouraged activities where a spray of saliva may happen during the holiday season to prevent the surge in COVID-19 cases.

In a press conference, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said a study showed evidence that singing and shouting can spread many viral particles.

“High risk activities and settings are where there can be ‘talsik laway’ such as singing and shouting. There was this evidence which has provided us of how much viral particles emitted when a person sings or shouts,” she said.

Aside from this, Vergeire said that shared or communal eating can also be a high-risk setting for saliva spray.

“Filipinos have the practice of having salo-salo during this Christmas season or New Year celebration so we should try to prevent this kind of things from happening,” she said.

Vergeire also highlighted the risk of being directly across the table from another person and the lack of barriers as well as face shields and face masks.

Earlier, the DOH discouraged the use of "totorot" or the traditional yuletide revelry horn to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.

The department also already warned of high virus transmission from videoke singing during Christmas festivities. --KBK, GMA News