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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Locsin urges public: Stay masked despite vaccination

Locsin urges public: Stay masked despite vaccination

Published May 15, 2021 08:30 am

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. urged the public to keep on wearing their face masks as if the country has no vaccines against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) yet.

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. (AP Photo / Sakchai Lalit / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

Locsin made the statement after the United States of America's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a face mask or distance themselves from others whether indoors or outdoors.

In a social media post, Locsin fervently disagreed with a tweet seemingly quoting the CDC announcement and urging the Philippines to "keep up."

"NO, WE MUST STAY MASKED, FACE SHIELDED, DISTANT, HAND WASHED, SHOWERED (TWICE DAILY AT LEAST)," Locsin said in screaming capital letters.

" SHOULD CONTINUE TO ACT, AS I TOLD SECRETARY OF STATE BLINKEN, AS IF VACCINES HAD NOT BEEN DISCOVERED EVEN AFTER VACCINATION as we go back to work and revive our economy," he added.

Meanwhile, in another tweet, Locsin commiserated with a social media user whose mother died from COVID-19 after another netizen said the pandemic was a "hoax."

On Friday, US President Joe Biden was elated as he shared in an address the announcement of the CDC.

"Today is a great day for America," Biden said in an address at the Rose Garden where he and his staff went mask-less.

"If you are fully vaccinated, you no longer need to wear a mask... Get vaccinated — or wear a mask until you do," he added.

The CDC guidance has helped clear the way for the reopening of workplaces, schools, and other venues — even removing the need for social distancing for those who are fully vaccinated.

However, wearing masks shall still be required in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons, and homeless shelters.

Related Tags

Face mask Teddyboy Locsin CDC America DFA covid-19 vaccination LOCSIN TEDDY BOY LOCISN United States of America Department of Foreign Affairs Coronavirus disease pandemic VACCINATED PEOPLE coronavirus US centers for disease control USA Teodoro Locsin Jr.
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