WITH the Christmas holidays fast approaching, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) chairman Junie E. Cua urged the public to be extra cautious to avoid getting sick as the Department of Health (DOH) expressed concern over the close to 200,000 cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) so far this year.
“I urge our fellow Filipinos to be extra careful para hindi tayo magkasakit, lalo na’t malapit na ang holiday season na panahon para sa mga social gathering (I urge our fellow Filipinos to be extra careful so you do not get sick, especially since the holiday season is amidst us now, a time for social gatherings),” Cua said.
According to the DOH, overall ILI cases in the country stood at 182,721 from January 1 to November 11 this year, 51 percent higher than the 121,160 reported cases in the same period in 2022.
Pneumonia cases are also up by 46 percent, with 158,762 pneumonia cases reported from January to October this year, from 108,982 infections recorded during the same period in 2022.
Cua called on the public to continue practicing health protocols established during the pandemic to reduce the risk of getting ill, as he emphasized that “prevention is better than cure.”
“Bagama’t lipas na ang pandemya, ang mga health protocols ay nagbibigay pa rin ng proteksyon laban sa mga virus na sanhi ng respiratory illness. Mas mabuti na pong umiwas dahil mahal magkasakit (While the pandemic is over, let us continue to follow health protocols so we will always be protected from the different viruses that cause respiratory illnesses. It is better to be cautious than to be sick because being sick is expensive),” said the chairman.
Cua also urged Filipinos to heed the DOH’s advice, especially for children, the elderly, and other vulnerable sectors to observe practices such as voluntary masking, regular handwashing, isolating when ill, ensuring adequate ventilation, and getting vaccinated.
“The holidays are a time for fun and fellowship, but I hope that we also engage in them responsibly. Kapag po nagkasakit tayo, tandaan natin na maaari tayong makahawa (Let us remember, if we get sick, we might also cause others to be sick),” he said.
