DOH saddened by LSI gathering violations

Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire expressed sadness over the Rizal Memorial Sports Stadium incident where locally stranded individuals (LSIs) were gathered in violation of social distancing protocols, putting them at risk of COVID-19 infection.

Vergeire emphasized that mass gatherings are prohibited and minimum health standards must be followed, despite having relayed these protocols to specific agencies.

The Department of Health (DOH) has informed the Department of the Interior and Local Government and other relevant agencies about the incident, and it is expected to be discussed by the government's COVID-19 task force.

The government also faced criticism for allowing a Philippine National Police band to perform for the LSIs, as the musicians had to remove their face masks to play.

However, Vergeire clarified that the primary risk stemmed from the violation of social distancing and mass gathering prohibitions, rather than the presence of the PNP band itself.