DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio discouraged the public, including private sectors, from conducting parties and other gatherings this Christmas while the city is still under mourning and vigilance for the Covid-19 pandemic.
Duterte-Carpio said this in a radio interview on Monday, October 12, in response to a question of a listener asking her advice if companies should still initiate parties in their respective companies.
"Parties are not really appropriate sa pagkakaron (right now). Plus, mass gathering is prohibited kay mao na ang mass spreader sa sakit (since it would cause a massive widespread of the virus)," she said in an interview via 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio, calling these events "super spreader" to the Covid-19 infection.
Duterte-Carpio added that there is a huge rate of infection in parties and other mass gatherings since minimum health protocols will not be properly observed, especially during eating, conversations, singing, and the lack of ventilation.
The mayor reiterated the provision of Executive Order (EO) 25, released early April this year, declaring April 17 to December 31, 2020, a period of mourning and vigilance as the global deaths due to the highly infectious Covid-19 continue to rise.
The EO states that private parties to mark personal or family milestones should be kept low key and modest, meaning a celebration in a public place should be held with no more than 25 guests, while those who want to pursue big celebrations can do so next year.
"Vigilance because there is a pandemic. Kung makita ninyo, it's worsening
diria sa atong siyudad sa Davao. (If you noticed, cases in Davao City are getting worse). This is the time for mourning, because daghan [atong] deaths (since many people succumbed to the virus), and these are grieving families," Duterte-Carpio said.
Based on the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao Region data as of October 11, 97 already succumbed to the virus in Davao City.
She also said there is a need to "empathize" with the city's healthcare workers who are working hard in curbing the spread of the virus.
The mayor, previously, clarified that she is not against the public holding celebrations, especially birthday parties, but minimum health protocols must be observed, including the wearing of face masks, two-meter physical distancing, and handwashing with soap and water, or with alcohol, while in public areas.