The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday advised the public to avoid doing Christmas caroling this year to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire cited a study that suggests that loud singing could increase Covid-19 infections.

“Eto pong pagkanta ng malakas siya yung may yield na pinakamataas na virus na pwedeng ilabas ng isang taong infected (An infected person can yield the most virus by singing loudly),” she said in a radio interview.

She said the decision on the possible caroling ban would still be up to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

Earlier, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said he will propose to the IATF-EID a caroling ban this yuletide season nationwide.

The DOH has released public health guidelines on holiday celebrations for this year, suggesting the limitation on the number of attendees in gatherings in line with the observance of physical distancing.

As 4 p.m. Monday, the DOH reported 2,058 new confirmed infections, pushing the total tally of active Covid-19 cases to 29,018. (PNA)