A DAY after the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) recommended the optional wearing of face masks outdoors nationwide, the Department of Health (DOH) aired a contrary position and said they want the policy to remain mandatory.
In a statement, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the agency wants Filipinos to “continue on masking.”
Despite this position, Vergeire said the department adopted the IATF stand because other data were presented to the task force that led to the recommendation submitted to President Marcos Jr.
“We needed to balance between the health and economy. What we have compromised would be that this will be done among low-risk individuals and in low-risk settings,” said Vergeire.
“This means that optional masking will only be done outdoors, in settings where it is not crowded, in settings where there is good ventilation. This will be done among low-risk individuals – meaning not the senior citizens, not those with comorbidities, not the children, and definitely not those having symptoms with COVID-19,” Vergeire said.
On Wednesday, Vergeire announced that the IATF-EID has recommended the optional or voluntary wearing of face masks outdoors nationwide but quickly clarified that this was “not yet a policy” although it already has the verbal approval of the President.
In a television interview, the health official yesterday said they have not set a timeline as to when the Executive Order (EO) of Marcos will be issued.
“We did not mention any specific timeline. It would really depend on the issuance coming from the Office of the President. If he approves already, after providing his guidance, once the policy is issued, then it will be implemented already,” she said.
Vergeire said they are set to meet with Marcos yesterday regarding the IATF-EID recommendations.
HEALTH EXPERTS
In a social media post, former National Task Force for COVID-19 special adviser Dr. Tony Leachon questioned the decision of the IATF as it is against the DOH position.
“OIC Vergeire was against the Cebu City lifting of face mask mandate outdoors but yielded to the IATF-EID. Who’s the lead agency deciding for public safety?” asked Leachon.
He also assailed the decision of the government to make public its recommendations sans an official policy.
“Making the recommendation and saying it is not yet a policy will confuse the public,” said Leachon.
Infectious disease expert Dr. Rontgene Solante said it is imperative for the national government to properly communicate the policy amendments to the public to avoid confusion.
“There are important specifics when we implement this… It’s important how we communicate this to the public, and its specifics,” said Solante in a separate television interview.
Solante reiterated it is “too early at this time” to implement a total lifting of the face mask policy, even as he suggested that the transition be phased and carried out first in areas with low to no cases of COVID.
In a televised public briefing, OCTA Research fellow Dr. Butch Ong said it wouldn’t be surprising if COVID-19 indicators will increase once the face mask policy is eased.
“As we all know, relaxing our preventive measures may result to increases in positivity rate, reproduction number, case count,” said Ong.
He said this is where continued adherence to other health protocols will be vital.
“If ever we ease our mask mandate, we need to enhance our other safety measures. Don’t go out when you have symptoms, while the unvaccinated will hopefully consider vaccination,” said Ong.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education said it will wait for a directive from the IATF on whether students and teachers can do away with the wearing of face masks while in school.
DepEd spokesperson Michael Tan Poa said they have yet to coordinate with the DOH on the issue. — With Ashzel Hachero and Jocelyn Montemayor
