MANILA, Philippines — Public gatherings, meetings and festivals are not banned and can still be held despite the threat of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), although precautionary measures must be observed, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) pointed out on Monday. The DILG said the setup was agreed upon following a meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, which included representatives from the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Tourism (DOT). ADVERTISEMENTThe DOH earlier advised the public to avoid attending concerts and participating in events with large crowds amid the COVID-19 threat. Malaya added that LGUs should discourage individuals with coughs colds, sore throat and fever from attending public events. Moreover, they should closely coordinate with their DOH counterparts so that they are properly guided,” he said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer February 17, 2020 05:03 UTC