JTF COVID Shield backs Christmas caroling ban proposal

The Joint Task Force COVID Shield supported proposals to ban caroling during the 2020 Christmas season due to the danger of COVID-19 infections among children.

In a Sunday statement, JTF COVID Shield commander Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar said they were waiting for the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) on the proposals.

“Caroling has always been part of the Filipino tradition, I believe each and every one of us has his or her funny and meaningful stories of caroling especially when we were children,” said Eleazar.

“But the situation is currently different. We are facing a serious threat [from COVID-19] and we in the JTF COVID Shield believe that it is in the health interest of everybody if we could just stay home and enjoy the Yuletide season with our family.”

Secretary of the Interior and Local Government and National Task Force on COVID-19 Vice Chairman Eduardo Año also supported the caroling ban.

“Based on studies and statistics, the spread of COVID-19 is more likely to occur in mass singing like choir and caroling because singers have to remove their masks as they sing and viruses are released through aerosols,” chimed Año.

Meanwhile, Eleazar, in coordination with Philippine National Police chief General Camilo Cascolan, instructed police commanders to work with their respective local governments over the possible caroling ban. — DVM, GMA News

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/763257/jtf-covid-shield-backs-istmas-caroling-ban-due-to-coronavirus-threat/story/

JTF COVID Shield backs proposed ban on Christmas caroling

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan

Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Sunday said he supports a proposal to ban caroling this Christmas season to prevent further transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Eleazar said he understands that caroling has always been part of the Filipino tradition, but the country is now facing different situation due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are facing a serious threat of coronavirus disease and we in the JTF COVID Shield believe that it is in the health interest of everybody if we could just stay home and enjoy the yuletide season with our family,” he said.

Eleazar said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has yet to decide on the proposal.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, who is also vice chairman of the National Task Force on Covid-19, also supports the caroling ban this year.

“Based on studies and statistics, the spread of Covid-19 is more likely to occur in mass singing like choir and caroling because singers have to remove their masks as they sing and viruses are released through aerosols,” Año said.

Año said he would recommend the ban on caroling nationwide.

In coordination with Philippine National Police chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan, Eleazar directed police commanders to coordinate with their respective local government unit (LGUs) with regard to caroling.

If the caroling ban is approved, Eleazar said parents should explain to their children why there is a need to skip the traditional caroling at least for this year.

He said children are considered as the most affected by the community quarantine rules since they could no longer do what they used to enjoy before the pandemic like going to school, playing with fellow kids and even going to the mall.

As of Saturday, the Philippines has 393,961 recorded Covid-19 cases with 350,216 recoveries and 7,485 deaths.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1121135

With Christmas nearing, quarantine enforcers back proposal to ban caroling

Silent nights could await Filipinos once the holidays come around, with the quarantine enforcement task force announcing that it backed calls to ban caroling ahead of the forthcoming Christmas season, it disclosed Sunday. 

In a statement sent to reporters, the Joint Task Force COVID Shield said this was due to the danger of coronavirus infection, especially for children who may be encouraged to go out in areas whose local governments would be allowing the practice. 

Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, commander of the JTF CV Shield, said the task force was still awaiting the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on the proposal.

“Caroling has always been part of the Filipino tradition...but the situation is currently different. We are facing a serious threat of Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) and we in the JTF COVID Shield believe that it is in the health interest of everybody if we could just stay home,” he said.

But Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, who sits as vice chair of the IATF, said he also supports the caroling ban this year and would recommend the ban be implemented nationwide.

“Based on studies and statistics, the spread of COVID-19 is more likely to occur in mass singing like choir and caroling because singers have to remove their masks as they sing and viruses are released through aerosols,” he said. 

Researchers warn of possible coronavirus resurgence amid holidays

On Friday, Mathematics professor Guido David, of the OCTA Research group, said the government must be ready to immediately respond to an uptick of new cases to prevent a surge.

“We are aware that when the holiday season comes, people already have fatigue and would want to go out,” he said in Filipino in an interview with TeleRadyo.

“It is possible to have an uptick but what is important is for us to have an immediate response. So in case there is a small uptick of cases, we will be able to control it and it will not worsen and be a surge,” he added.

Children are considered as the most affected by the community quarantine rules since they could no longer do what they used to enjoy before the pandemic, the joint task force said in its statement. 

In a briefing, the health department also urged the public to celebrate Christmas with caution amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

“Social and family gatherings must be kept with less people as possible,” DOH Health Promotion Bureau officer Rodley Carza said. 

“Preferably people within the same household will be attending the gathering and activities requiring travel to areas with higher quarantine classification shall be avoided." — Franco Luna 

Ban on street caroling, videoke mulled

By Catherine S. Valente, TMT

THE government will study a proposal to ban street caroling during the Christmas season to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), a Palace official said.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said in a virtual press briefing aired on state-run PTV-4 on Saturday that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has yet to tackle the measure but assured the public that it would definitely be discussed in one of its future meetings.

The Department of Health (DoH), through Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire, also discouraged singing  in videoke bars because “like talking and breathing, singing can transmit aerosol droplets that carry the virus that causes Covid-19.”

Citing studies, Vergeire said during her weekly “Laging Handa Public Briefing” segment on Saturday, that singing “gives off the highest load of virus that you can transmit.”

She said the DoH might recommend a ban on public videokes but would allow those in private homes.

Mamba proposal

Roque’s statement was in response to a proposal by Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba.

Mamba said the local government could issue an ordinance, but it would be more effective if it would come from the IATF, the government’s policy-making body on Covid-19 response.

“At least they know that there is a medical and scientific basis in what we are trying to ask,” Mamba said.

‘Covid-free’ December

President Rodrigo Duterte said he hoped for a “Covid-free December” so that everyone could enjoy the Christmas season, citing the development of the Russian vaccine Sputnik-V.

The third phase of the clinical trials of Sputnik V by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology will be held simultaneously in the Philippines and Russia from October 2020 to March 2021 with tens of thousands of patients to be vaccinated for its safety and efficacy.

Malacañang is expecting Sputnik V to be registered with the local Food and Drug Administration by April 2021.

‘High-risk’ holiday activity

Singing, alongside dancing, is considered a high-risk holiday activity under DoH Circular 2020-0355 issued on October 26.

Other measures include limiting the number of people in family and social gatherings and holding them outdoors for better ventilation or holding virtual gatherings with family members and friends who are not living in the same household; shopping online instead of shopping in crowded malls, and bazaars; avoiding activities that require travel to areas with higher quarantine classifications; keeping activities as short as possible; limiting participation for those considered to be vulnerable; and observing minimum health standards such as face masks, hand washing or sanitizing, and physical distancing.

“Of course, we want to celebrate the holidays, but we have to learn how to celebrate it safely,” Rodley Carza of the DoH-Health Promotion Bureau said during an online forum on Thursday.

The Philippines has so far reported 391,809 Covid-19 cases, with 7,461 deaths and 394,974 recoveries. With reports from RED MENDOZA

https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/11/08/news/national/ban-on-street-caroling-videoke-mulled/792946/