THE Department of Health (DOH) on Friday, September 17, 2021, called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to explore ways for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients to cast their votes in the May 2022 polls without having to go to their polling precincts.

"Hopefully, the Comelec will have an alternative way of having these elections for those Covid-19 positive patients," DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

"If it is possible, maybe they can be allowed to vote virtually, digitally, or through SMS," she added.

Vergeire stressed that Covid-19 patients must remain in isolation because they might transmit the disease if they go to the voting centers.

The Comelec has said that it was looking for ways to allow Covid-19 patients to cast their votes despite being in isolation or quarantine.

The poll body said it was considering the system being used for persons deprived of liberty (PDL), wherein poll personnel go to the jails to allow them to cast their votes. (HDT / SunStar Philippines)