People are now allowed to remove face shields while working or walking outdoors, a health official said Wednesday.
“Ang face shields kailangan naman talaga iyan ‘pag nasa indoor ka, ‘pag nasa mall ka, pag may interaction ka na face-to-face sa inside,” Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said in a media briefing.
“Pag nasa outside naman kasi, alam naman natin ang risk of transmission is very low. Lalong lalo na ‘pag naglalakad ka lang sa kalye, o kaya nagtatrabaho ka kasi maka-affect iyong moist nito, pwede niyo ho tanggalin ‘yan,” he added.
A joint memorandum circular on guidelines issued last Jan. 29, 2021, by various government agencies, including the Department of Health, exempts the following from using face shields while outside of their homes:
– individuals whose safety or ability to work would be severely affected by visual or respiratory impairment due to the face shield
– those who wear goggles or other forms of eye protection for their work
– those who cannot remove face shields on their own, including people with medical conditions
– children below two years old
– those who are doing physical exercises (face shield should be worn before and after the activity)
– people who are eating in public spaces (face shield should be worn before and after the activity)
– passengers of motor vehicles (face shield should be worn before and after the ride)
The use of face shield will no longer be required once the country improves it Covid-19 vaccination rate, Health Secretary Francico Duque III earlier said after Senate President Tito Sotto asked during a senate hearing if the Health Department is considering discontinuing the use of face shields.
“Siguro, your honor, pagka malaki-laki na po ang coverage natin ng bakuna baka pwede na po nating pag-aralan ‘yun pong minumungkahi ng ibang mga grupo na baka pwedeng huwag na gumamit ng face shield,” the secretary told Sotto.
For now, Duque said, they are asking the public to continue wearing face shields as it provides another layer of protection.
Sotto, in response, said that the Department of Health should immediately conduct a study about the face shield’s efficacy and not wait for the situation to improve.
According to the latest DOH data, the Philippines has administered close to seven million Covid-19 vaccine doses, mostly as first shots, as of June 16. The country has a population of over 100 million. Ronald Espartinez
