Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III believes that the use of face shields should be “risk-based” amid the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“Kung ako ang tatanungin, ito personal...pwedeng gawing voluntary under certain circumstances (If I am asked, in my personal opinion... this can be done voluntarily under certain circumstances),” said Duque on Tuesday, Nov. 9.
“Ang tawag dito risk-based use of face shield,” he added.
Under his proposed risk-based approach, Duque suggested that the use of face shields could be voluntary under Alert Level 2. However, it should be mandatory in crowded places, closed contact settings, and confined areas with poor ventilation.
The face shield requirement should, meanwhile, be mandatory if Alert Level 3 or 4 is in place, Duque suggested.
The face shield policy should be “flexible,” said the Health chief.
“May mga ganun na flexibility dapat. Hindi ang usapin eh gagamit ba o hindi. Hindi naman ganun kasimple iyon (There must be flexibility. It's not a question of whether to use it or not. It's not that simple),” he said.
However, Duque said that it is important to wait for the final decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) with regards to the matter.
“Hintayin natin yung recommendation ng Technical Advisory Group of Experts...Antabayanan natin, baka sa Huwebes, meron ng official recommendation ang Technical Advisory Group of Experts (Let's wait for the recommendation of the Technical Advisory Group of Experts.. Maybe on Thursday, the Technical Advisory Group of Experts will already have an official recommendation to the IATF),” he said.