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Netizens react to DOH’s decision to stop posting COVID-19 updates on social media

Updates will only be available on the agency’s official website

Starting next year, the Department of Health will no longer provide COVID-19 updates on social media to “streamline public communication.”

Updates will only be available on the agency’s official website.

“The public tracker, which has been operational since the start of the pandemic, contains all information being provided in the case bulletin and daily situation report,” the DOH said in an advisory.

“Hence, to streamline public communication, the case bulletin and the daily situation report will no longer be issued separately as social media card and as PDF file, respectively,” it added.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III and some colleagues do not agree with the DOH’s decision, citing the lack of information could prove to be a huge problem amid the rise in Omicron cases.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri shared the same sentiment.

“Whether it is decreasing or increasing it is the right of the people to know this and be informed about it,” he was quoted as saying.

Sen. Joel Villanueva noted that the social media bulletins remind the public that the pandemic is still here “and that we must continue to be careful and practice safety protocols.”

Philippine Red Cross chair Sen. Dick Gordon said health departments must keep spreading information related to the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said accurate information is needed, so the public remains aware of the country’s response to the outbreak.

Netizens share the same views as the senators, saying that the DOH has given up.

https://twitter.com/cleinmate/status/1475475771766423556?s=20

Written by Charles Teves

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