Commuters wear face masks and face shields as they wait for public transportation along Escario Street in Cebu City in this photo taken on December 30, 2020. CDN Digital photo | Brian J. Ochoa
MANILA, Philippines — The government’s pandemic task force Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), has recommended making the wearing of face masks outdoors voluntary, Malacañang announced on Wednesday.
Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said the wearing of face masks was recommended to be “optional” in open spaces, non-crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation.
Senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals, however, are “highly encouraged” to continue wearing their masks.
“Ayon doon sa IATF, ang kanilang rekomendasyon ay sa pag-liberalize ng ating mask-wearing mandate and make mask-wearing outdoors voluntary across the country,” Angeles said in a Palace briefing.
(According to the IATF, they are recommending liberalizing the mask-wearing mandate in the country and make mask-wearing outdoors voluntary across the country.)
For her part, Department of Health officer-in-charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has given “verbal approval” on the IATF’s recommendation.
Marcos is currently in Singapore for a state visit, one of the countries which has relaxed its face masking rule.
She and Angeles, however, clarified that this is not yet a policy. / ###
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