The wearing of face masks in public transport and medical facilities are still “required” as the country is set to make the use of face masks in indoor settings voluntary, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
This is based on the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), said the DOH.
“As per IATF Resolution, wearing of face masks in indoor settings shall be optional except” in particular settings, the DOH said in a brief statement.
These settings include healthcare facilities including but not limited to clinics, hospitals, laboratories, nursing homes, dialysis clinics; medical transport, and public transport, the DOH said.
On Oct. 25, Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will issue an executive order soon to make wearing of face masks in indoor settings voluntary across the country.
Frasco said that mask wearing is still highly encouraged for those unvaccinated, individuals with comorbidities, and senior citizens.
With the easing of the face mask rule, the DOH also warned of a possible spike in Covid-19 cases in the coming months. It is projected that the country may see at least 2,500 to as high as 18,000 cases per day.
The DOH continuously reminded the public to get vaccinated and boosted against the Covid-19 virus.
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