(UPDATE) Medical frontliners on Wednesday appealed to the public to follow health protocols to avoid a possible spike in COVID-19 cases during the Christmas holidays.
The Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 was the same group of doctors, nurses and health workers who sought a "timeout" in August, resulting in a rollback to MECQ or modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and other urban areas.
Authorities have also expressed concern over a possible holiday surge, prompting a new directive on face shields everywhere outside people's homes and keeping shopping malls off limits to children.
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Infections are rising, the alliance said as it advised the public to stay at home as much as possible and keep Christmas celebrations within the household.
It summarized its safety tips with the acronym APAT -- air circulation, physical distancing of at least one meter, always wear face masks and face shields and thirty-minute interaction or less.
Here's an update on COVID 19 cases as of 4 p.m. of Dec. 15.
