The Department of Health campaign to discourage the use of fireworks in celebrating the holidays dubbed “Ligtas Christmas Para sa Healthy Pilipinas 2021 Holiday Campaign” included reminders for the public to continuously practice minimum public health standards against COVID-19 as well as encourage Filipinos to choose healthier options during feasts and gatherings.
“We all know that all of us have been longing to be with our relatives and friends during occasions like this but we must continue to be careful because COVID-19 is still around,” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said at a press briefing earlier this month.
Vergeire also urged the public to observe a balanced diet by avoiding fatty, sweet and salty food. She underscored the importance of having more fruits and vegetables.
“Let us celebrate the holiday safely by avoiding fireworks… we are recommending alternative means of making noise,” she added.
The DOH has encouraged local government units to organize community fireworks displays to discourage household use of firecrackers.
With so many activities, temptations and gatherings, keeping safe during the holidays has always been difficult. The addition of COVID-19 to the list of things we have to watch out for means we will still have to be extra careful during the remaining days of the holiday season. Avoiding firecrackers; eating and drinking healthy food and drink, in moderation; and constant vigilance against COVID-19, especially with the more infectious Omicron variant making its way across the globe; will have to be on top of our minds every time we go out to meet friends and family in order to ensure the safety of such gatherings or celebrations.
Let us do our best to keep our safety and that of our loved ones in mind as we close out the holiday season.*
