THE Department of Health-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH–CAR) encouraged the public to show their physical affection to each other provided they do not show signs and symptoms of the new coronavirus disease–2019 (Covid–19).
Doctor Amelita Pangilinan, DOH-CAR director, said that for as long as both partners does not possess the signs and symptoms of Covid–19, this should not affect the physical affection between partners.
“What we recommend is for everybody to be normal and to not over act because if both partners do not have respiratory symptoms, why would you let this corona virus scare you. Let’s go back again to the proper education of our public and let’s make the city be normal,” Pangilinan said.
For the past days, the health department continues to remind the public to practice proper hand hygiene, drinking lots of fluids, staying away from crowded areas, practice a healthy lifestyle and to immediately seek medical assistance from health officials once an individual may experience the signs and symptoms of Covid–19.
“Especially that it is Valentine’s Day, wherein you show your affection to your loved ones and if you don’t have the symptoms, I think your partner will understand. As a doctor, mother and a wife, I think this is the time for me to hug my children and my love ones and as long as you don’t have the signs and symptoms then enjoy Valentine’s Day,” Pangilinan added.
Fantone advocated Valentine’s Day “outdoor dating” in uncrowded places, in accordance with the DOH advisory calling for “social distancing” amid the virus threat.