Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Friday dismissed rumors of an impending lockdown, clarifying that the Philippines is merely experiencing its seasonal rise in influenza-like illnesses.
“There is no planned lockdown, that is fake news,” he asserted during a press conference, following social media claims that the Department of Health (DOH) is planning renewed restrictions due to increasing flu cases.
Herbosa clarified that there is no basis for implementing a lockdown similar to those imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is our ILI season: influenza-like illnesses. There are many kinds, such as cough, colds, flu, and other similar diseases that spread very quickly during the rainy season. We don’t have an outbreak caused by a single virus, so there’s no need to declare a lockdown,” he explained.
Herbosa then assured the public that the DOH is monitoring the situation closely and that hospitals remain capable of handling the cases.
He urged the public to avoid misinformation and refrain from sharing unverified claims about a possible lockdown.
