GOVERNMENT will ease the mandatory wearing of face masks and face shields when in public places only when 50 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated, the National Task Force against the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) said yesterday.
Ted Herbosa, an NTF consultant, said this, however, will still take a little bit since only three million Filipinos have so far been fully vaccinated, or completed their two doses of vaccine, while an estimated 9 million have received their first dose.
“We have been advised to remove the face mask and face shield when we reach 50 percent (vaccinate rate) of the target population… (but) we’re still (only) at three million,” he said during the “Laging Handa” public briefing.
He urged the public to be patient and to continue complying with the minimum health protocols set by the government to avoid catching the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Harry Roque, in a briefing yesterday, said the use of vaccination cards by fully vaccinated persons in lieu of a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test in domestic travels will continue to be in effect until a new policy or protocol is issued by President Duterte or the Interagency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
“IATF resolutions are adopted for and on behalf of the President in the exercise of police power. That’s binding on all unless you declare yourself to be an independent republic… hanggang mag-decide po o baguhin ng IATF ang mga patakaran, kinakailangan ipatupad po muna (until the IATF decides or amends the resolution, it should still be implemented),” Roque said.
Roque said the consensus to use vaccination cards in lieu of negative PCR test results was seen by the government as an incentive to those who would take part in the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program to stop the pandemic.
Some local government units (LGUs) have asked the IATF to reconsider the decision and to allow them to implement their own travel protocols, such as requiring negative PCR tests on all travelers to prevent the entry of the coronavirus in their jurisdictions.
Yesterday, the League of Provinces of the Philippines again urged the national government to give LGUs the discretion to require fully-vaccinated individuals to present negative swab results for interzonal travels.
LPP and Marinduque Gov. Presbitero Velasco Jr. said: “Most governors want to have the discretion whether or not to require RT-PCR or antigen tests on travelers, even those who are already fully-vaccinated.”
Citing information from experts, Velasco said fully-vaccinated individuals are not 100 percent protected from COVID-19, as they can still be infected though the effect will be mild to moderate.
“This means they can still be carriers,” he said.
If RT-PCR or antigen tests are will no longer be required, Velasco said there is the possibility that an infected individual can enter their borders and spread the virus to residents.
Velasco clarified the request to require swab tests is only being pushed by LGUs which have moderate or high-risk COVID-19 infections. “They are the ones requesting to continue the testing requirement. Not all LGUs want that,” he said, adding: “Our only request is to give LGUs the discretion or option to require the testing.”
Velasco said some LGUs may be open to lift the COVID-19 test requirement among fully-vaccinated travelers because many of their constituents have been already vaccinated.
He cited the case of Baguio City which has already vaccinated 40 percent of its population. The city was among the first LGUs to announce it is already accepting fully-vaccinated travelers sans RT-PCR or antigen test.
In other LGUs, he said a huge part of their population are yet to be vaccinated. He said these LGUs should also be given the discretion to require fully-vaccinated travelers to present negative RT-PCR or antigen test. — With Victor Reyes
