Malacañang: Use of face shields not required in Alert Level 1-3 areas
The mandatory use of face shields is no longer required in areas under Alert Level 3 or lower.
This, after Malacañang approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to lift the regulation in its Resolution No. 148-D (s. 2021).
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However, President Rodrigo Duterte reminded the public that face mask would remain part of the day-to-day safety measure because the virus will stay here for a long time. He urged everyone to follow health and safety protocols to ensure that the COVID-19 positivity rate in the country will steadily decrease.
According to the memorandum, the use of face shields in community settings shall remain mandatory in areas under Alert Level 5 and granular lockdowns.
For places under Alert Level 4, local government units and private establishments are given the discretion to maintain or remove the wearing of face shields policy.
People living in areas under Alert Levels 3, 2, and 1 can voluntarily use the face shields for extra protection.
“The above protocols are without prejudice to the continuing mandatory use of face shields in medical and quarantine facility settings, and the required use thereof by healthcare workers in healthcare settings,” the memorandum read.
In December 2020, the IATF-EID issued Resolution 88, requiring all persons to wear full-coverage face shields on top of face masks in all public places to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
In June this year, Malacañang ordered the public to wear face shields only in hospitals but immediately decided to keep the IATF-EID’s original policy following the surge of the more infectious Delta COVID-19 variant.
Metro Manila is under Alert Level 2 until Nov 30.
Source: Official Gazette
