DOH disowns message on 'upper respiratory disease affecting China'

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday warned the public against a circulating message that used the department’s name regarding upper respiratory infection in China.

The DOH issued the warning after a health bulletin which used the department’s name said that the infection affecting China at present was “quite serious” and “very potent and is resistant to existing antibiotics.”

“The DOH would like to clarify that the message did not come from any verified platforms of the Department,” it said in a statement.

The Health Department reminded the public that any disease can be prevented by practicing healthy habits including proper diet and exercise.

“In general, respiratory diseases, as well as other communicable diseases, can be prevented by employing our layers of protection such as sanitation, masking, distancing, good ventilation, and vaccination,” it added.

The department then urged the public to be vigilant and check source information only from legitimate sources and platforms, which can be accessed through its official social media sites.

China will stop requiring inbound travelers to go into quarantine starting from Jan. 8, as a major step towards easing curbs on its borders, which have been largely shut since 2020, according to the National Health Commission.

The health authority said China's management of COVID-19 would  also be downgraded to the less strict Category B from the current top-level Category A, as the disease has become less virulent and will gradually evolve into a common respiratory infection.

Since January 2020, China had classified COVID-19 as a Category B infectious disease but managed it under Category A protocols that cover diseases such as bubonic plague and cholera, giving local authorities the power to quarantine patients and their close contacts and lock down regions.

While China downgrades its management of the new coronavirus, the National Health Commission said epidemic prevention and control protocols at key institutions such as elderly care institutions will be strengthened. —