IT is still ‘too early’ to relax the face shield policy included in the mandatory minimum health protocols amid the continued threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the still rising number of infections in many areas in the country, National Task Force against COVID-19 spokesman Restituto Padilla said yesterday.
Padilla, in an interview with radio DzBB, said this was the reason behind the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to retain the use of face shields in enclosed or indoor spaces following consultations and the advice of technical working groups and health and science experts.
The recommendation has been submitted to President Duterte, who is expected to announce his decision tonight during his weekly Talk to the People forum.
Padilla said unnecessarily adjusting the current health protocols may result in another surge, especially since the country has yet to reach its target of population protection or vaccination of around 50 percent of the adult population. There are around 70 million adults in the country.
He likewise said it is incorrect to compare the Philippines to other countries that no longer use face shields or have lifted their face mask policy, such as the United States, as they have already inoculated around 50 percent of their population compared to the Philippines, which have only vaccinated 10 percent of the adult population.
“It is still too early. Like what the experts say, let’s not compare the Philippines to US because the US have already vaccinated half of its population,” he said.
The country has so far only vaccinated around 8 million individuals as of June 18. Of this number, 5.95 million have received their first dose while 2.096 million have completed two doses.
The country targets to complete the first dose of vaccination of 25 to 30 million of the adult population by August. It is also eyeing to complete the vaccination of 50 million to 70 million of the population by the end of the year and start the inoculation of 15 million teenage population this year.
President Duterte last week was quoted as saying that the use of face shields should be limited in hospitals, after a statement of a health department official that the government can already do away with face shield use in outdoor spaces.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno had also previously questioned the scientific basis of requiring face shields as the country battles the pandemic.
The Department of Health (DOH) has expressed rejected proposals to separate vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals in public places, saying it might violate human rights.
In a televised public briefing on Saturday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they do not agree with proposals by the business sector to separate vaccinated individuals from unvaccinated people when in business establishments.
“We are looking at concerns on human rights once we adopt this differentiation between the vaccinated and unvaccinated,” said Vergeire, but quickly added that they are open to hearing the opinion and recommendations of other government agencies on the matter.
“There will likely be a long discussion on that. I think the other agencies should be able to provide their recommendations as well,” she said.
Vergeire’s statement comes after Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said they are looking at segregating employees, clients, and guests, who have already been vaccinated against COVID-19 from those who have not been vaccinated and those who don’t want to take the vaccine.
Concepcion said that among the possible areas of separation are elevators, offices, fine dining restaurants, cinemas, gyms, and other enclosed spaces, where ventilation is poor.
In the meantime, Vergeire said it would be better if workplaces and other commercial areas will just strictly adhere to minimum public health standards.
“What we can advise is for everyone to just be more careful. Whether we are vaccinated or not, if only we will follow the minimum public health standard, the chances of infection will be smaller,” she added. — With Gerard Naval
