Christmas caroling allowed this year — DOH

Street caroling will be allowed this Christmas, provided that carolers wear face masks and face shields, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.

“Sa pangangaroling po kailangan lang tandaan na outdoors dapat, nandyan ‘yung pagsuot ng face mask at saka face shield,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an interview on Unang Balita.

(When caroling, we need to remember that it's outdoors, so carolers should wear face masks and face shields.)

Vergeire reminded the public that people expel more respiratory droplets when singing, increasing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. 

“Risks may be mitigated if conducted outdoors and outside the household, with appropriate distance from observers, at smaller groups to avoid crowding, and not including the vulnerable and older seniors,” she said in a separate statement.

“Other options include virtual or online caroling."

Vergeire also urged local governments to create guidelines on caroling.

“[T]here are no explicit provisions against caroling, although LGUs are encouraged to develop specific guidelines based on their respective local settings,” she said.

According to Interior Department spokesman Jonathan Malaya, caroling will only be allowed in areas under Alert Level 2.

"Under Alert 2, caroling is allowed provided that MPHS is strictly followed and subject to the operational capacity of the venue of the caroling…," Malaya said in a message to reporters.

He said minors must also be accompanied by a parent or a guardian.

Minors in the National Capital Region have been allowed to go outside after nearly two years of being forced to stay home due to the COVID-19 threat.

Last year, several local governments banned caroling ahead of the Christmas holiday. At that time, the new COVID-19 cases recorded daily in the country ranged from 1,000 to less than 2,000.

The Philippines on Tuesday logged 1,409 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest daily tally in nearly nine months. —LBG/RSJ/VBL, GMA News