Wearing face shields in areas under Alert Levels 3, 2, and 1 is no longer mandatory, according to the New Normal Manual of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the May 2022 polls.
Based on the manual, the use of face shields shall be "voluntary" for areas under Alert Levels 3, 2, and 1 per the Memorandum of the Executive Secretary dated Nov. 15, 2021, on Protocols on the Use of Face Shields.
Under the General Guidelines issued by the poll body on Feb. 18, wearing face masks and observance of minimum health and safety protocols are still a must for the safety of the electorate.
Voters are also required to undergo a non-contact temperature check upon entry of the polling precincts and they must observe at least one-meter distance from one another. Should a voter’s temperature be 37.5 Celsius and above, he/she will be attended by medical personnel, and if the voter has a fever, he/she will be brought to an isolated polling facility to cast his/her vote.
Moreover, the number of people inside polling precincts will be regulated by the poll body based on the alert level in the area to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Comelec Spokesperson James B. Jimenez said that the safety of the public is their primordial concern during the conduct of the polls.
Earlier, Jimenez said that wearing face shields is a must in campaign events as the poll body deems it “a crucial cornerstone of minimum health protocols.”