Dr. Michelle Schlosser, the spokesperson of the city’s COVID-19 Task Force said any other social gathering can be a super spreader, especially when people are not disciplined.
Mayor Sara Duterte in her Executive Order (EO) No. 11, Series of 2022, underscored the retention of the mandatory wearing of face masks even if the city is under alert level 1 or alert level zero status.
"The risk of COVID-19 transmission remains, it still depends on the discipline of people. Any gathering, whether it be an election, wedding, birthday, or a simple friendly get-together, there's a great chance of spreading infection,” Schlosser told the City Information Office (CIO).
Schlosser reiterated the importance of wearing face masks at all times except when eating or drinking and refraining from engaging in high-risk behaviors and activities.
Schlosser also said that since the virus could not be seen and it is inevitable one would get infected and COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, getting a booster dose is the best and wisest way of protection from the severity of the disease.
“It's not enough that we have a two-dose series of the anti-COVID-19 vaccine. We really need booster shots,” she said.
Aside from wearing face masks, getting fully vaccinated and boosted, and practicing proper hand hygiene, she also reminded voters to bring their stuff, such as ball pens, when they go to their designated polling precincts.
The city’s alert level 1 status has been extended until April 30,2022 as COVID-19 cases remain low.