MANILA (UPDATE) - President Rodrigo Duterte has reminded the public to follow minimum health standards in electoral precincts when they cast their votes on May 9 to avoid a possible COVID-19 surge.

The Department of Health (DOH) earlier warned that Metro Manila could record up to 446,000 COVID-19 cases by mid-May if people violate health protocols, given the increasing election-related activities.

"Remember when you go to the electoral precincts, kindly tell yourself that you have to remember the things that government wants you to follow. So that hindi masyado tayo mahirapan and we will prevent another surge," Duterte said in his taped address aired on Wednesday morning.

"There will be some crowding again of small spaces lalo na sa mga eskuwelahan. It has something to do with the elections also itong COVID-19," he added.

The country, the President said, "can only interdict the surge" in the future by wearing face masks, washing of hands, and following other minimum health protocols.

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He also reminded people to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

VACCINATIONS

Acting Palace spokesperson Martin Andanar appealed to Filipinos to get fully vaccinated or boostered against COVID-19, amid concerns on the waning immunity of COVID-19 vaccines and the threat of new omicron subvariants.

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The country's COVID-19 task force has yet to decide on calls to redefine fully vaccinated individuals as those who have already received at least 3 doses of COVID-19 jabs, and to place expiration dates on COVID-19 vaccination cards of those who have yet to receive their booster shots.

“Ito ay patuloy na pinag-uusapan ng TWG ng IATF. Sa ngayon, ang pagsunod sa minimum health standards ang ating tugon laban sa COVID-19 surge,” said Andanar.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III last week urged voters experiencing virus symptoms to just stay in their homes to prevent super-spreader events.

It was also against government’s quarantine and isolation policies to allow COVID-stricken individuals to go to polling centers and cast their votes due to the risk to public health and safety.

Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje over the weekend said campaign sorties could have caused a spike in infections in several areas nationwide.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier said it would test isolation polling places (IPP) for voters experiencing COVID-19 symptoms on election day.

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