The less people know about the status and developments of the campaign against COVID-19, the more they fear, and lack of official and reliable information breeds false news.

The Department of Health, concerned health facilities and all coordinating agencies must regularly announce or broadcast updated accurate reports on the contagion for national, regional and local dissemination.

The reportage must be clear, transparent, and free of technical jargon and partisan biases.

While the identities of PUIs (people under investigation), PUMs (people under monitoring) and patients found positive of the virus must be protected, confidentiality protocols should not shroud or cover the latest whereabouts of these people and patients to facilitate contact tracing by local officials and health authorities on the ground who are charged with enforcing border or community lockdown and individual quarantine.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN