OCTA backs non-requirement of face shields in cinemas

Independent research group OCTA has expressed its support for the non-requirement of face shields inside cinemas for a better watching experience.
"We were in a GoNegosyo forum and they were discussing removing the requirement for face shields in theaters because it actually makes sense. It will not be an enjoyable experience if you’re wearing a face shield," OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said in an ANC interview on Tuesday, Nov. 2.
David pointed out that the removal of face shields will be fine since those who will be allowed to enter the movie theaters are only fully vaccinated individuals.
"We will support it (removal of face shield) because I think the move is to allow fully vaccinated people to enter theaters," he said.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) allowed cinemas to reopen at 30 percent capacity for fully vaccinated individuals in Alert Level 3 areas, such as Metro Manila.
Moviegoers are allowed as long as they are one seat apart and still wear their face masks.
More vaccinations in provinces needed
David also pushed for more vaccinations in the provinces to fight the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
"We are not super concerned about another surge because we’re not seeing a variant of concern right now in the world. I mean, we’re seeing a new variant in the UK which is a lineage of the Delta variant but based on the data it’s showing that it’s 10 percent more transmissible than the Delta variant," David said.
"Secondly, we are also seeing a high vaccination here in the NCR . Of course, the amount of vaccinations in the provinces is not as high as in the NCR and that’s why we should really focus on vaccinating more people in the provinces where vaccine hesitancy is actually higher," he added.
While the country's vaccination rollout has been successful so far, David said that "it doesn’t mean that we should stop doing the things that we should do—testing, contact tracing, isolation, quarantine are still necessary."
He reminded the public and the government to "go back to the basic" health protocols to prevent a possible surge in COVID-19 cases.