By Myris Lee
The Department of Health (DOH) reiterated that wearing of face masks should remain mandatory amid the optional face mask use order in Cebu, stressing that COVID-19 and its variants still exist.
In the June 11 Laging Handa briefing, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergerire said the country “has not yet reached the immunity rate goal,” hence warned the public against being complacent.
“Ang pagsusuot ng face mask ay kailangang-kailangan pa rin natin. Alam po natin na mayroon na pong mga sub-variants na pumasok sa ating bansa,” Vergeire said.
“Alam din po natin na hindi pa po ganoon kataas ang antas ng pagbabakuna sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng ating bansa. Pangatlo, mababa pa rin po ang uptake ng booster dito sa bansa,” she continued.
Citing studies, Vergeire said those countries who loosened mask restrictions “had a sudden surge in COVID-19 cases.”
Vergerie explained that their position on the optional face mask use order is “anchored on the policy set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.”
“Gusto nating pigilan muna ang ganitong pangyayari sa ating lugar. Gusto natin na makita na stable tayo at manageable ang cases natin,” she added.
Vergeire said the National Capital Region remains at low risk for the virus amid a slight increase in COVID-19 cases in the previous week.
The Health official also noted that the country has so far vaccinated 69.9 million Filipinos. – gb
