HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque III reiterated Monday, May 2, 2022, that even the close contacts of a person who tested positive for coronavirus should not go out to vote on May 9 to prevent the spread of the virus.
In a radio interview, Duque said Covid-19 patients and their close contacts, especially the members of their household, should stay home or in isolation facilities as they may be sanctioned in accordance with Republic Act 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Disease and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.
He said close contacts are assumed to also be carriers of the virus.
“Kung may sakit, naka-isolate ka, let them stay. Hindi puwedeng palalabasin mo tapos magkakalat. Hindi naman tama ‘yun from a public health point of view,” he said.
(If you have the disease, then isolate yourself, let them stay home. You cannot allow them to go out and spread the virus. That’s not right from a public health point of view.)
Duque said they will have a meeting with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to “fine tune” such concerns with about seven days before the election.
Comelec commissioner George Garcia said in a separate interview that individuals who tested positive for the virus, or those with symptoms of Covid-19 may still cast their vote on Election Day.
He said they have prepared isolation polling precincts.
“May posibilidad din po na ‘yung mismong may findings na na talagang Covid-19 positive ay nakalabas ng bahay o isolation facility kung saan siya naandon, wala tayong magagawa kundi pabotohin sila,” he said.
(There is a possibility that those coronavirus-positive can go out of their homes or isolation facility. We cannot prevent them from voting.)
He said Covid-19 test results or even vaccination is not necessary for voters to be allowed to practice their right to take part in the election.
During one of his recent Talk to the People Addresses, President Rodrigo Duterte urged the public to comply with health protocols during Election Day amid threats of another Covid-19 surge.
In a press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Mimaropa, Bicol and Eastern Visayas had a positive growth rate over the past two weeks, while the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Cagayan Valley and Central Visayas had a one-week positive growth rate.
“Gayunpaman, ang bahagyang pagtaas ng at least two and at most 30 cases ay hindi pa rin nagta-translate sa mas mataas na average daily attack rates,” she said.
Vergeire said they also recorded a slight increase in the nationwide intensive care unit utilization rate but it remains at low risk while hospital admission rate remains to be plateauing with a minimal decrease of 2.8 percent as compared to the week prior.
She said the Philippines remains under minimal risk for Covid-19 infection.
“Overall, the national positivity rate is still at a slow decline at 1.2 percent from 1.3 percent from last week. Ito na rin ang pinakamababa nating na-record sa loob ng isang linggo simula nung 2021 -- mas mababa ng 23 percent kumpara sa pinakamababang naitala bago tayo magkaron ng Omicron situation,” she said. (SunStar Philippines)