By Katrina Gracia Consebido
The chair of the country’s Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) said Thursday, Sept. 8, the public should still continue wearing face masks amid recommendations on loosening face mask restrictions.
In the Laging Handa briefing, VEP Chairperson Dr. Nina Gloriani said the public should still continue wearing face masks until the COVID-19 situation in the country has “stabilized” and stressed that face masks mandate should still be implemented amid the “changing COVID-19 trend” in the country.
“Mas mabuting hintayin na lang muna natin na talagang mag-stabilize ang ating kaso. Kasi mamaya bumababa, mamaya umaakyat na naman, kung titingnan natin ‘yung nakikitang trend. Bukod dun mababa ang ating booster,” Gloriani noted.
“Bantayan natin kung ano ang magiging trend, lalo sa mga may edad, sa mga may comorbidities, ‘yung mga immunocompromised, and even ‘yung mga bata. Kasi hindi natin alam kung sino ang makakasalamuha natin,” she added.
Gloriani, meanwhile, encouraged the public to have themselves boosted against COVID-19.
“Napakaimportante ng booster, kaya kailangan pang iexplain nang mabuti na sana ay magpabakuna na sila nung first booster, kasi maganda talaga ang data, nare-reduce ang hospitalization, nare-reduce ‘yung critical case [at] ‘yung pagkamatay.” she added. – gb
