DOH discourages use of torotot for New Year amid pandemic

The Department of Health discourages the use of torotot in welcoming the new year amid the threat of the Omicron variant.

According to Mark Salazar's report on "24 Oras" on Monday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire advised Filipinos to use other alternatives to celebrate the arrival of 2022.

"Ating iwasan muna ang paggamit ng tororot, pito, o ibang laruan na may paggamit ng bibig upang maiwasan ang pagkakahawahan. Mas masaya po ang pagsalubong ng bagong taon pag ligtas at malusog," she said.

(Let's avoid using horns, whistles, or other items that we use with our mouths to prevent infection. Welcoming the new year will be more joyous if we are safe and in good health.)

The department also discouraged the use of torotot last year, and sellers in Divisoria saw brisk sales of a version of the toy that uses an air pump instead.

The country has so far recorded 2,838,792 COVID-19 cases including 2,778,002 recoveries and 51,211 deaths.