Starting Saturday, Aug. 15, employees will be required to wear face shields in addition to face masks to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Wednesday said wearing of face shields would be integrated into the minimum health standards to be followed in workplaces.

“Effective Aug. 15, it is not only face masks that workers should wear but also face shields. That is the new protocol,” Bello said.

On Aug. 1, Malacañang urged the wearing of face shields in public spaces, citing results of studies showing its effectiveness to reduce virus transmission.

Face shields provide protection for the eyes and makes it less likely for a person to touch his or her face.

Existing minimum public health standards include wearing of masks, washing of hands and physical distancing.

Earlier the Department of Transportation made mandatory the wearing of face shields when riding public transportation.

The country’s total Covid-19 cases rose to 143,749 after 4,444 new infections were recorded on Wednesday. John Ezekiel J. Hirro