The number of firework-related injuries in Central Visayas decreased by 55% during the holidays under pandemic year 2020.

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story reported that fireworks-related injuries decreased by 111% in Central Visayas. This has been corrected.

The Department of Health Central Visayas recorded only 17 injuries caused by fireworks and firecrackers from December 16, 2020 to January 1, 2021.

Of this, 6 were from Lapu-lapu City, 3 from Bohol and Cebu City and two from Negros Oriental, Cebu Province and Mandaue City.

DOH also noted one abdominal injury from a stray bullet sustained by an 11-year-old in Negros Oriental.

All in all, the number of injuries were 20 cases lower than the recorded 38 injuries in 2019, or a 55% drop

However, despite safety protocols and movement restrictions due to the pandemic, majority of the injuries were sustained outside homes. The DOH data showed 11 of the 18 injuries occurred in the streets. — Rappler.com