The Department of Health (DOH) is recommending the wearing of two masks as a means of protection against COVID-19.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said there is a higher level of protection offered if a medical grade surgical mask has another mask on top of it.
“Hindi po sapat ang pagsusuot ng tamang uri ng mask, kinakailangan tama at fitted ang pagsusuot nito,” Vergeire said in the Jan. 21 Palace briefing.
DOH USec. Vergeire says they are encouraging the use of double-masking to maximize filtration and protection. pic.twitter.com/cIoL65jtPx
— PTVph (@PTVph) January 21, 2022
“Pinakamababa o lowest ang risk ng pagkalat ng pagkakahawa ng virus kung fitted N95 at K95 mask ang suot… Lower risk naman po kung fitted ang pagdo-double masking, low risk kung fitted na surgical mask, moderate risk kung fitted na cloth mask o mask na gawa sa tela ang ating suot,” she added.
The reminder on the proper use and wearing of face masks is amid the current increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.
According to the OCTA Research, the increase in the number of new cases outside the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus areas has reached 200% within eight days.
“Although there’s a noticeable downward trajectory in the NCR and possibly in parts of Region IV-A, there’s now an upward trajectory in other parts of the country,” Prof. Guido David said.
Meanwhile, the NCR continues to experience a decline in its reproduction number since January 3. The group believes the daily new cases may go down to less than 1,000 before Valentine’s Day and to less than 500 by end of February.
Although the DOH is convinced that case increase is slowing down in NCR, the agency remains careful in declaring a decline of cases.
“Nakikita pa rin natin na ubod ng taas ang positivity rate natin sa NCR. Kailangan din po natin ikunsidera ang ating mga limitasyon sa panahon ng Omicron kung saan marami sa ating mga kababayan, gumagamit ng antigen test, marami sa ating mga kababayan, hindi na nagpapatest at nagpapa-isolate na rin,” Vergeire said. – Report from Mark Fetalco/AG
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