The Department of Health (DOH) emphasized anew the importance of proper usage of face masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Saturday reiterated that face masks must be worn when going outdoors and that it must cover the nose and lips.
The DOH said it does not recommend using and wearing N95 masks and medical masks for communities, and proposed the use of cloth masks to reserve the supply of medical masks for health workers.
Meanwhile, the health department clarified there is a need for more evidence to support the claim of studies that COVID-19 has an airborne transmission.
“Sa ngayon ang mga eksperto, pati po ang WHO, ang kanila pa ring ebidensya ay droplets infections (For now, experts as well as the WHO still hold the evidence on droplet infections),” Vergeire enlightened.
As of June 13, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country reached 25,392 after 504 fresh cases and 103 late cases were included in the tally. DOH data show that total recoveries in the country increased to 5,706 while the death count rose to 1,074. – Report from Rex Espiritu
