AMID the recent increase in confirmed mpox (monkeypox) cases in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) clarified that there will be no lockdowns or mobility restrictions.
In a statement posted on social media on May 31, the DOH debunked circulating misinformation claiming that lockdowns would be enforced due to mpox.
The agency emphasized that it has not issued any recommendations for lockdowns and urged the public to be cautious of fake news, especially those bearing the DOH logo.
“Walang lockdown kahit saan man sa Pilipinas. Fake news iyan (There are no lockdowns anywhere in the Philippines. That’s fake news),” the DOH reiterated.
The clarification comes after Cebu reported its first confirmed mpox case in Talisay City on May 29.
The patient reportedly died due to other health complications, and how he contracted the virus remains unclear.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mpox spreads through close, often skin-to-skin, contact but is not airborne. Health experts advise those with frequent exposure to infected individuals—such as healthcare workers—to wear face masks.
The current mpox outbreak involves Clade II, a milder variant.
Most patients recover within two to four weeks, and health officials stress that widespread panic or restrictions are unnecessary.
