ILOILO City – The Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas urged the public to celebrate the holidays with caution.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still around, according to Dr. Sophia Pulmones, OIC-assistant regional director, thus it is important to ensure safe holiday activities by observing minimum public health standards.
While COVID-19 cases in the region have slowed down, Pulmones said vulnerable sectors need to be extra cautious, such as the senior citizens, the immunocompromised and the unvaccinated.
“Kon sa imo pag-assess you are highly vulnerable, continue to wear mask especially in indoor places,” she added.
Pulmones also emphasized the importance of food safety and urged everyone to ensure that food and its preparation are safe, clean and not contaminated.
Unsafe food preparation is the common cause of food- and water-borne diseases, she said.
Avoid too much alcohol consumption, also the assistant regional director stressed.
“Hinay-hinay lang because this can also be a cause of accidents, especially kon ikaw mag-drink and drive,” Pulmones added.
The DOH-6 official also gave tips to godparents who would be giving gifts to their godchildren.
“Importante sa mga maninoy kag maninay nga ang ihatag nga regalo ukon toys are safe para sa ila mga ihado kag ihado – indi matulon, indi mapilasan or cannot cause injury sa bata,” she added.
Meanwhile, still as part of the safe holiday celebration campaign, the DOH regional office discourages the use of firecrackers.
“Indi kita gusto nga pagkatapos sang New Year, napilasan kita or nabulag or na-amputate ang aton tudlo,” said Pulmones.
She noted that DOH-6 will start monitoring firecracker-related incidents on Dec. 21 until the first week of January 2023./PN
