Still wear masks when outdoors as 50% uptick in pneumonia cases in PH reported

HEALTH Assistant Secretary Beverly Ho advised the public especially the vulnerable groups to wear masks when outdoors as 50 percent uptick in the number of confirmed pneumonia cases in the contry in the first 10 months of the year.

The Department of Health (DOH) said on a released data, a total of 158,762 pneumonia cases were reported from January to October, a 46-percent jump from the 108,982 infections recorded during the same period in 2022.

The agency said more cases are expected in the cooler months ahead.

Ho said that wearing face masks is still one of the most effective protections against respiratory ailments.

“Enhanced outpatient and inpatient surveillance has been implemented for respiratory illness since mid-October, which may have contributed to the observed increase in detection and reporting,” the DOH added.

The rise in pneumonia cases was noted amid a reported spike in respiratory illnesses in China, which has caused global concern.

“Given this, the DOH also continuously works to further mitigate cases in the country through strengthened monitoring (and) implementing catch-up immunization and outbreak response immunization strategies, especially in areas with increasing incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases,” the agency said in a statement. Ho advised those having coughs for more than two weeks to immediately consult a doctor as symptoms may point to other illnesses, such as tuberculosis.