Covid ‘5th wave’ possible if protocols are not followed, says health exec

AN OFFICIAL of Mandaue City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) urged those participating in political rallies and other mass gatherings related to the campaign period to continue following the minimum health protocols especially that the possibility of a “fifth wave” of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases could occur.Dr. Ligaya Lakambini Dargantes, the city’s EOC deputy chief, urged those attending in political rallies to keep following the minimum health protocols such as wearing of face masks in tightly crowded spaces to avoid getting Covid-19.“Another surge of Covid-19 in the country is really possible with all of this political activities and all. We are already expecting that to happen. But I just hope people have already learn their lesson from this pandemic,” Dargantes added.Dargantes said her office has been closely monitoring the mass gatherings in the city related to the campaign period of the 2022 elections, including the recently concluded Ceboom Grand Rally at the North Reclamation Area.Despite the huge crowd that gathered during the Ceboom Grand Rally on Thursday, April 21, 2022, Dargantes said they have not received any reports that participants of the activity have violated basic health protocols.The Ceboom Grand Rally of Vice President Leni Robredo and her running mate, senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, attracted around 150,000 people, according to police estimates.Dargantes said Mandaue City has not reported any new Covid-19 cases as of April 21.She said only 14 active cases were reported from April 1 to 21, even with the successive mass gathering activities attributed to the election campaign period.Fiesta activitiesDargantes also reiterated her concern now that the city’s annual fiesta in honor of St. Joseph the Worker is fast approaching.Mandaue City’s annual fiesta is often held on May 8.Dargantes said they will continue to monitor the city’s Covid situation now that mass gatherings are now allowed especially that Mandaue is now under Alert Level 1 from April 15 to 30.She said the Mandaue City government has allowed all fiesta-related activities to be celebrated physically but the implementation of minimum health protocols will remain.