THE Department of Health (DoH) urged protesters at the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday to follow minimum health protocols as a precaution against the spread of the highly-infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In a briefing with reporters, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that while they recognize the activists' right to freely express their opinions, they are urged to wearface masks, face shields and observe physical distancing to prevent a superspreader event.