Maria Rosario Vergeire (Source: RTVM)
The Department of Health on Saturday warned against the use of videoke machines during the holiday season as it might increase Covid-19 transmissions.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire cited findings of a report that singing was the activity that posed the highest risk of spreading the virus.
“Dito pinakita kapag ikaw ay nagsasalita, kapag ikaw ay humihinga, kapag ikaw ay umuubo at nakita dito sa pag-aaral na ito na kapag ikaw ay kumakanta, dito ang pinakamataas na load ng virus na puwede mong mai-transmit,” she said in a Laging Handa briefing.
Videoke machines operate with the use of a shared microphone.
According to the World Health Organization, the coronavirus can spread from an infected person’s mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing or breathe heavily.
“Siyempre kapag may mga ganito pong ebidensiya, ang DOH po, because we base our recommendations on science and evidence, sinasabi natin ano na hindi muna po natin mairirekomenda na itong videoke ay mabuksan natin,” Vergeire said.
Vergeire said singing activities should be limited within the family as the threat of Covid-19 remains.
“Although siyempre sa mga pami-pamilya lang na hindi naman lumalabas, maaari naman natin iyan payagan. Pero iyon pong mga pangmalawakan, mga party po na magkakaibigan, baka po dapat iwasan muna po natin ito,” she added. John Ezekiel J. Hirro