DOH reminds LGUs to strictly enforce health protocols amid fiestas

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday reminded local government units (LGUs) holding fiestas and similar celebrations to strictly implement minimum health protocols to uphold public safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Oscar Oida’s report on “24 Oras”, the DOH will conduct surveillance on the conduct of fiestas in the country to monitor whether or not the gatherings will not become superspreader events.

“Hopefully po, di sya naging superspreader event. But we will be cautioning the other LGUs who will be conducting similar activities to strictly implement minimum public health standards,” Dr. Aleli Annie Grace Sudiacal, DOH NCR Assistant Director, said.

(Hopefully, it did not become a superspreader event. But we will be cautioning the other LGUs who will be conducting similar activities to strictly implement minimum public health standards.)

“Hindi tayo complacent. Itong mga activities na ito... we're not preventing them but we really enjoin the LGUs to implement strictly minimum public health standards. We cannot let our guards down. Wag pong kalilimutan na nasa COVID time pa rin po tayo,” she added.

(We’re not complacent. We're not preventing these activities but we really enjoin the LGUs to implement strictly minimum public health standards. We cannot let out guards down. Let us not forget we’re still under the COVID time.)

San Juan City is among the LGUs that resumed the celebration for the feast of their patron saint.

It held on Friday the “Wattah Wattah” festival two years after its cancellation due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The fiesta involved residents dousing each other, and those passing through the city with water.

Mayor Francis Zamora himself went around in a fire truck with a hose to douse the crowds on the street.

Many city folk, however, participated in the event without face masks, a key measure in the minimum health standards against COVID-19.

Zamora and police gave away masks as they went around the city. 

The mayor said such events were allowed in areas under Alert Level 1 based on the guidelines of the country’s pandemic task force.

Zamora said San Juan is under the “low-risk” classification for COVID-19.  —Sundy Locus/NB, GMA News