Infectious disease expert warns public: In-person Christmas parties still risky

By CNN Philippines Staff

Published Dec 3, 2021 3:43:50 PM

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 3) —In-person Christmas parties and gatherings in the country are still strongly discouraged despite an improved vaccination rate, afectious disease expert said Friday.

Dr. Rontgene Solante, a member of the Vaccine Expert Panel, told CNN Philippines’ The Source that in-person gatherings during the holiday season may lead to high-risk COVID-19 exposures due to the threat of COVID-19 variants.

“At this point we need to really control and still prohibit big gatherings at this point. We know we have a high rate of vaccination but again, if you have these high-risk exposures like having these gatherings then that will be a very bad way of looking at a higher risk also of getting infection,” Solante said.

“Remember, the cases are still there and we still have the Delta (variant). Delta alone is already highly transmissible,” Solante added.

He said it would be better to wait until COVID-19 cases further go down and it’s safer to adjust restrictions. For the meantime, intimate gatherings among family members are advisable.

“Discourage muna natin yung mga outside of the family na manggaling sa iba’t ibang lugar na di natin masyadong alam ang pinanggalingan (Let us discourage those outside of the family who will come from other places) even if they are vaccinated. Make sure na yung (that the) bubble among the family is maintained,” Solante added.

Solante advised the public to keep wearing face masks, observing social distancing, and handwashing despite having completed their COVID-19 doses.

Over 36.8 million Filipinos have completed their COVID-19 vaccination as of Dec. 1— less than half of the 77 million original target to achieve herd immunity. Meanwhile, 389,451 have received their booster shots.

SOURCE: https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/12/3/In-person-gatherings-risky-COVID-infection.html