The Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said it is not yet time to stop requiring face shields.
“We will be guided by science in all of our decisions, I am sure that the IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging and Infectious Diseases] and Department of Health will study this very carefully,” DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said in the June 3 Laging Handa briefing.
DOH Epidemiology Bureau Officer-in Charge Director Alethea De Guzman said all recommendations, including wearing a face shield on top of face masks, are all evidence-based.
“Sa ngayon, nakikita natin mahalaga na idagdag pa rin, magsuot pa rin ng face shield. Dahil ‘di ba, ‘pag pinagsama natin ang masking at face shield, higit na tumataas yung protection natin from getting ill,” De Guzman said.
Both agencies said any changes to the policy should be studied first, following Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso’s call on June 2 to require face shield use in hospitals and enclosed areas only, since it is only a financial burden to the public.
“Ang face shield ay dapat ipatigil nang i-require sa general population at gamitin na lamang sa ospital upang makabawas sa gastusin at intindihin ng taumbayan,” he said.
The mayor, however, said that this will be considered if more individuals have been vaccinated.
“Pero for the meantime, continue using that because we have not reached our goal,” he said.
Malacañang on Thursday (June 3) said the combination of face mask, face shield, and physical distancing is an effective measure against COVID-19 transmission.
“Pero gayunpaman, nakikinig naman po ang ating IATF. I’m sure narinig ng IATF ang rekomendasyon ni Mayor Isko, at kung ito po ang magiging rekomendasyon ng lahat ng mayor sa Metro Manila, talagang pinakikinggan naman po ang ating implementers,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said. – Report from Kenneth Paciente/AG-jlo
Watch full report from Kenneth Paciente:
