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DOH says antigen test not recommended for Christmas parties

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Davinci Maru, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt=" Locals attend the lighting of a Christmas tree at the Pinaglabanan Shrine in San Juan City on Dec. 2, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/news/12/09/20221202-san-jaun-christmas-gc-12.jpg"/><figcaption>Locals attend the lighting of a Christmas tree at the Pinaglabanan Shrine in San Juan City on Dec. 2, 2022. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — Using antigen test to screen those attending Christmas parties for COVID-19 is not recommended, the Department of Health said Friday.</p><p>In a press briefing, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said antigen tests are more accurate when they are used in people who have symptoms of COVID-19.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Pag ginagamit po natin ang antigen test for screening, which is really not recommended, you might get false positive or false negative results. This would just give you inaccurate management,&quot; she said.</p><p>A false negative result may lead to COVID-19 transmission, Vergeire said. </p><p>Meanwhile, a person may experience &quot;mental anguish&quot; by being not able to attend the party due to a false positive result, she added.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2373285" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>The health official urged the public to employ health screening instead of using antigen tests.</p><p>If experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 like runny nose, stay home, Vergeire said.</p><p>Wearing of mask during parties will also reduce the spread of COVID-19, she stressed.</p><p>The DOH has called on the public to get vaccinated to be more protected against COVID-19 during the holiday season.</p><p>As of Dec. 8, the Philippines has 17,994 active COVID-19 cases. Confirmed cases are those that tested RT-PCR positive by a DOH-RITM laboratory.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/11/22/doh-no-more-restrictions-this-christmas-get-vaxxed">DOH: No more restrictions this Christmas, get vaccinated</a></li></ul><div> </div>

Using antigen test to screen those attending Christmas parties for COVID-19 is not recommended, the Department of Health said Friday.

DOH says antigen test not recommended for Christmas parties

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DOH says antigen test not recommended for Christmas parties

Davinci Maru,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 09, 2022 05:29 PM PHT

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health

Department of Health

DOH

COVID-19

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coronavirus

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Christmas

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