WHO Country Representative Rabindra Abeyasinghe and DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire noted at separate press briefings that existing health protocols against COVID-19 are enough.
According to Abeyasinghe, WHO is studying a report published in The Lancet on the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
The report underscored the need for adjustment in current protocols against COVID-19.
“We are looking at these conclusions carefully… It is still largely aerosol-generated transmission. But we are studying these new reports,” he maintained.
Abeyasinghe reiterated that COVID-19 is spread by aerosols “generated through talking, coughing or sneezing (that) can be controlled by the wearing of masks.”
“That’s why WHO has been advocating the wearing of masks to prevent aerosols from landing on people or surfaces,” he said.
Unless there is a clear impact analysis on what degree of transmission can be attributed to airborne, he stressed “our primary focus should be on prevention of transmission through wearing of masks and hand hygiene.”
Abeyasinghe added if the protocol would move to “more stringent measures” such as wearing of N95 masks and double masking, “we need to be conscious that this must be relative to the risk of airborne transmission.”
This story is from the April 20, 2021 edition of The Philippine Star.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 20, 2021 edition of The Philippine Star.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BSP collects P649 M from coin deposits
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has collected more than P600 million worth of coins as part of efforts to bring these back to circulation and address the shortage due to improper storage or disposal.
GARY V'S NEXT ACT AS A STAR MAGIC ARTIST
Gary Valenciano, renowned as the country's Mr.Pure Energy, marks a new milestone in his 40-year showbiz career by signing with ABS-CBN's premier talent agency Star Magic, embarking on a new journey of reinvention.
Producers Savings Bank acquires Leyte rural bank
Producers Savings Bank Corp. has completed its merger with one more rural bank, bolstering the bank's assets and profit growth via its branch network expansion.
UnionBank to kick off P10-B stock rights offer
The stock rights offering of Aboitiz-led Union Bank of the Philippines is set to kick off in May to raise as much as P10 billion to fund the capital infusion of its digital bank and for other general purposes.
Detoxicare, AstraZeneca collaborate groundbreaking breast cancer testing
Detoxicare Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, a subsidiary of Detoxicare Philippines Inc., recently inked a partnership deal with global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to spearhead next-generation sequencing for breast cancer, marking a significant step forward in the fight against the disease.
PPA readies P1.5 B for Leyte, Bohol port projects
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) will spend more than P1.5 billion to construct a new port in Leyte and expand an existing one in Bohol to boost trade activities in Visayas.
Higher output lifts Atlas Mining profit
The improved production of copper and gold more than doubled the bottom line of Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp. to P563 million in the first quarter.
DTI eyes Al-powered app for price monitoring
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is looking to launch an app powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to serve as a guide for consumers on prices of basic goods.
Index closes flat on lack of market-moving news
The stock market opened the week with minimal gains as investors waited for catalysts.
Ecozone investments slip by 9% in 4 months
Total investments approved by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority PEZA) reached nearly P30 billion in the first four months of 2024, a nine percent decline from P33.094 billion worth of projects cleared in the same period last year.
