Government officials clarified wearing a face shield is not yet mandatory but is highly encouraged in Metro Manila and Calabarzon.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said in a taped briefing that wearing face shields would be one of the minimum health standards that would be imposed as part of “conditionalities” in maintaining Metro Manila and Calabarzon under general community quarantine.
“Ito ang hugas kamay, suot ng mask, at social distancing. At pagsuot na rin po ng face shield,” Roque said.
(The new minimum health standard is washing of hands, wearing of face masks, social distancing, and the wearing of face shield.)
The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases’ (IATF) resolution, meanwhile, did not include wearing a face shield for Metro Manila and Calabarzon. Roque then clarified he just “recommended” the measure.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez also said it is not mandatory, but the IATF guidelines may soon require it.
Lopez said using face shields on top of face masks will increase protection from the virus for up to over 90 percent since the coronavirus spreads through respiratory droplets.
“Hindi pa po ‘yan nire-require ngayon pero baka in the future ay ma-require na natin kung kakailanganin pa natin ng extra protection. Sa ngayon po, we will just encourage ang pagsusuot ng face shield. Umpisahan na natin,” Lopez said in a separate briefing.
(That is not required yet, but maybe in the future, we will require it if we need extra protection. For now, we will just encourage the wearing of face shield. Let’s get started.)
Also read: 20 millions Filipinos to receive free COVID-19 vaccine
As of July 30, the country has logged more than 89,000 COVID-19 cased. Of this number, some 22,000 are active cases, while around 65,000 recovered, and nearly 2,000 died.
The Department of Health (DOH), on behalf of the IATF-EID and in coordination with the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), earlier launched “BIDA Solusyon sa COVID-19.
The campaign promotes the active role of individuals in the fight against COVID-19 by practicing the following behaviors simplified into four letters:
B – Bawal walang mask
I – I-sanitize ang mga kamay, iwas-hawak sa mga bagay
D – Dumitansya ng isang metro
A – Alamin ang totoong impormasyon