The compliance with minimum public health standards against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has decreased in the Visayas and Mindanao, according to a latest survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

In a nationwide poll conducted from April 28 to May 2, the SWS asked the respondents: “Nitong nakaraang buwan, gaano kadalas ninyo ginawa na ang mga sumusunod? (In the past month, how often have you done the following)?”

The poll body said four specific practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19 were presented to the respondents in random order.

Use of face mask

The survey results showed that the percentage of those who “always use a face mask” declined in the Visayas (72 percent) and in Mindanao (64 percent).

Compared to the results of another SWS survey in September last year, compliance to the use of face mask in the Visayas was at 86 percent while Mindanao had 78 percent.

The percentage of those who always use a face mask rose in Balance Luzon (80 percent), while it barely changed in Metro Manila (78 percent).

Frequent hand washing

The percentage of respondents who indicated that they “always wash their hands” are now highest in Metro Manila (76 percent), followed by Balance Luzon (71 percent), the Visayas (69 percent), and Mindanao (52 percent).

“Compared to September 2020, those who always wash their hands rose in Metro Manila (up by 13 points from 63 percent) and Balance Luzon (up by 7 points from 64 percent),” the SWS said.

“However, it fell in Mindanao (down by 13 points from 69 percent) and the Visayas (down by 6 points from 75 percent),” it added.

Keeping physical distance

The poll body found that those who responded that they “always keep physical distance” dropped in Mindanao—from 60 percent to 42 percent—and in the Visayas—from 66 percent to 52 percent.

Meanwhile, those who always observe physical distance are now highest in Balance Luzon (66 percent) and followed by Metro Manila (65 percent).

“Compared to September 2020, the percentage of those who always keep physical distance rose in Balance Luzon (up by 10 points from 56 percent). It stayed at 65 percent in Metro Manila from September 2020 to May 2021,” the agency said.

Use of face shield

The poll results also showed that those who always use a face shield when riding public transportation or entering establishments are now highest in Metro Manila (66 percent), followed by Balance Luzon (62 percent), Mindanao (43 percent), and the Visayas (35 percent).

“Compared to September 2020, those who always use a face shield rose in Metro Manila (up by 11 points from 55 percent) and Balance Luzon (up by 10 points from 52 percent),” the SWS said.

“However, they declined sharply in the Visayas (down by 31 points from 66 percent) and Mindanao (down by 15 points from 58 percent),” it added.

The Department of Health (DOH) has recently flagged the some areas in the Visayas and Mindanao that are currently experiencing a significant increase in the number of infections.