HEALTH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire yesterday said the mandatory use of face masks even in outdoor and non-crowded spaces would be revived if cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) surge again.
In a press conference, Vergeire said the Department of Health (DOH) will push for the return of the mandatory wearing of face mask “once we reach the point that the key indicators increase, particularly the hospital admissions, severe and critical cases (and) deaths.
“It will be discussed within the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases) and also (we will) make recommendations to the President,” Vergeire said.
Last Monday, President Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order (EO) No. 3 allowing the voluntary use of face masks outdoors and in non-crowded areas.
The EO further stated that senior citizens, immunocompromised individuals, and those who are not yet fully vaccinated are “highly encouraged” to still wear their face masks when they go out of their homes.
Despite this, Vergeire expressed hopes that more Filipinos will prefer to continue wearing face masks.
“If we know that we are at high risk, we should still continue to wear our masks. Mask should still be our default,” said Vergeire.
INDOOR MASKING?
As for calls to also make face mask voluntary in indoor areas, the health official said they don’t believe it is necessary to implement yet.
Vergeire said this is because easing restrictions must be done gradually and not hastily.
“We are doing this slowly, gradually. We are studying this carefully. All policies we are implementing will be based on science and evidence. The ultimate goal is for us to protect the health of our Filipino people,” said Vergeire.
“We don’t need to hasten this. We must do this in phases. We believe it is not yet time to do this in indoor areas or spaces,” she stressed, noting that the prevailing evidence indicate a high COVID-19 transmission rate in indoor areas.
“All evidence point to having high probability of transmission of infection when in enclosed and indoor spaces,” said Vergeire.
Earlier, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry pushed for the optional wearing of face masks even for indoor spaces, saying that masking should be left in the hands of individuals without any conditions.
Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. yesterday directed the PNP and local government units (LGUs) to make sure people continue to wear face masks in indoor spaces and public transportation.
Abalos noted that EO 3 still requires the wearing of face masks in indoor private and public establishments, including public transportation by air, land, and sea and in outdoor settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained.
Abalos also encouraged people who are yet to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals to continue wearing face mask and observe physical distancing at all times.
“While the face mask policy has been made optional in the outdoors, the use of face masks in indoor public and private establishments and in public conveyances shall continue to be enforced, especially now that cases are on the uptick,” said Abalos.
“LGUs and the PNP should coordinate closely in ensuring that the public continues to wear face masks indoors and in public transportation. We are still in the middle of the pandemic, and we cannot let our guards down,” he added.
Abalos said LGUs should take the lead “in ensuring compliance from the public to the indoor and public transport face mask rule in their respective areas.”
Abalos appealed to senior citizens and those who are sick to wear a face mask at all times for their safety and health. “The threat of COVID-19 cannot be discounted by anyone, more so, our vulnerable population,” he said.
Franklin Quijano, chairman of the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC), said seniors should be allowed to skip wearing face masks, like the rest of the population, if they are in “safe spaces” or places outdoors like the beach or park.
Quijano said that while senior citizens are “highly encouraged” to still wear the face masks even when going out, he said there are “safe spaces” that will never become a threat to the elderly such as forested areas, beach shores and plazas.
“As long as we are able to define safe spaces, we would like to agree na pwede ng walang face mask and even senior citizens who are in safe spaces may not have face mask (As long as we are able to define safe spaces, we would like to agree that we no longer need a face mask and even senior citizens who are in safe spaces may not have face mask),” he said.
In a televised public briefing, infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvaña expressed support to the lifting of the mandatory face mask policy saying it is merely part of the gradual easing of COVID-19 restrictions in the country.
He said he has nothing against the lifting of the mask mandate as long as the easing is done gradually.
“If we look at this, we have really began moving towards easing all restrictions. We need to see the effects of our calibrated response as COVID becomes more and more endemic,” he added.
Similarly, the independent OCTA Research said it is supportive of the decision of President Marcos.
“We support the government’s new policy on relaxing the mask mandate for the outdoors,” said OCTA in a statement, adding: “We have been at the forefront of advocating the relaxation of the mask mandate for the outdoors as long as these spaces are not crowded and there is good ventilation.” — With Victor Reyes and Jocelyn Montemayor
