Presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Tuesday, Nov. 2, disclosed that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases is studying the possibility of finally ending the face shield policy.
However, the Palace official maintained that the public should still keep wearing their face shields for the meantime as there is no final decision yet.
“I can confirm po na habang bumababa ang mga numero ay pinag-uusapan na rin po kung ipagpapatuloy pa ang pagsuot ng face shield (that while the number is decreasing, we’re also talking about whether or not we will continue the face shield rule),” Roque said, referring to number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.
“Dahil bumababa ang numero marami nang, kung baga, nagsasabi sa IATF na baka dapat itigil na rin ang pagsusuot ng face shield pero wala pa pong desisyon ah. Magsusuot pa rin po tayo ng face shield (Because the number is decreasing, many are already telling the IATF that we should stop wearing face shield but there is no decision yet. We are still going to wear face shield),” he added.
The spokesman specifically mentioned that people should still wear a face shield in the 3 Cs—closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings.
READ: Limited to 3Cs: Duterte lifts mandatory wearing of face shields outdoors
He said that there is no final word yet on when the task force will decide on lifting the face shield requirement, although the technical working group is already studying the possibility.
The Philippines, which saw a drop in COVID-19 cases in the past two weeks, is the only country in the world that has a face shield mandate.
Although the government has lifted the face shield requirement in outdoor areas, the public is still required to wear a face shield in indoor establishments such as malls and grocery stores.
The public and several groups have continued to call for the stoppage of wearing face shields, citing the convenience it is causing and its alleged ineffectiveness in stopping the spread of the coronavirus.
READ: WHO looking into PH’s face shield policy vs COVID-19
On Monday, Nov. 1, the Philippines logged 3,117 new cases, the lowest since May 23. Its intensive care unit (ICU) bed occupancy rate remains in the safe zone at 45 percent while the positivity rate is below eight percent, nearing the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of less than five percent.