DOH proposes online caroling, karaoke singing

In a Facebook post last Tuesday, Remulla urged the public to report loud karaoke singers to authorities to prevent noise pollution. (File Photo: nikki/Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0)

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) is recommending to the public to forego physical caroling and karaoke singing during this time.

In an advisory issued on Friday, the DOH is also recommending the holding of online and virtual activities instead of physically gathering together.

The same advisory also said people may opt to just listen to music instead of actually singing to avoid droplets that may spread the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

DOH specifically said caroling and singing in karaoke may cause the spread of the virus to the people who are actually in the gathering.

“Ayon sa pag aaral, mas marami ang na eemit na droplets ng isang tao kung siya ay kumakanta o sumisigaw. Kaya’t mas mataas ang posibilidad na magkahawaan ang mga dumalo sa ganitong pagsasama sama (studies show that more droplets are being emitted by a person while he/she is singing or shouting. This means that the possibility to contract the virus is much higher during this type of gatherings),” the advisory read.

Passing of the microphone, in the case of singing, and other instruments are also likely to happen, and that we can never be sure if the hand of the person who held and passed the object is clean, otherwise, the virus may easily be transferred to the next person and all the others in the room.

The DOH said an increase in new cases of Covid-19 has been observed recently and that the public must be reminded of the risk factors that come with the disease.

Health authorities said health and safety is the best gift that one can give to their loved ones.

Christmas and other celebrations may still be done safely, according to DOH.

“Sa mga event katulad nito mahirap maiwasan ang pakikipagsalamuha at pakikipag usap ng malapitan sa mga kasama (In these events it is tough to avoid mingling and closely talking to each other),” the DOH said.