• ‘Even if it is mandatory to wear them in school premises, students still interact, eat, and hang out with their friends or classmates without wearing one, which defeats its purpose’ – Student in Quezon City
• ‘For me, removing face mask indoors is okay, but we should still maintain social distancing and avoid spitting saliva droplets when talking” – Musician from Pasig City
• ‘I think wearing a mask should still be mandatory… We should not relax even though movement restrictions are easing because there are still active and increasing cases” –Marketing specialist
• ‘I think Covid-19 is just like flu and other viral diseases, which dull our sense of smell, and taste, cause body aches, breathing difficulty, and death. So, it’s better not to use masks, it’s easier to breathe” – Senior citizen storekeeper
Face masks have been one of the essentials we have been using to protect ourselves from Covid-19 since its onslaught in early 2020.
Health experts have advised that face masks give significant protection from the virus, especially when combined with other preventive measures such as social distancing, hand sanitizing, vaccination, and booster shots.
face mask (Unsplash photo)
Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the end of the pandemic “is in sight,” following reports that Covid-19 cases worldwide have significantly dropped. Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) revealed in an earlier statement that Covid cases in Metro Manila “is slowly declining.”
On Oct. 25, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he will issue an executive order lifting the country’s mandatory use of face masks indoors.
On Oct. 25, Malacañang released Executive Order (EO) No. 7 on the new Covid-19 protocol.
Based on the EO signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, face masks are now voluntary indoors. However, it shall remain mandatory in the following settings: Healthcare facilities, medical transport vehicles, public transportation. Meanwhile, the following are still encouraged to wear their masks: the elderly, individuals with comorbidities, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, unvaccinated and symptomatic individuals.
After hearing the news about the President’s plan to make the use of face masks voluntary, Manila Bulletin asked four persons their opinion about taking off the mask.
Bea Delos Reyes, a 19-year-old business administration student from Quezon City, said that she agrees with the voluntary mask-wearing in classrooms, malls, and other commercial establishments, as long as that has been approved by health experts.
“It is easier to breathe without a face mask, especially indoors. Besides, even if it is mandatory to wear them on school premises, students still interact, eat, and hang out with their friends or classmates without wearing one, which defeats its purpose,” Delos Reyes told Manila Bulletin.
Likewise, Stephen Tan, 24, a musician from Pasig City, favors the government’s move to keep it optional since many Filipinos are still hesitant to remove their masks.
“Sakin okay na magtanggal ng mask indoors basta social distancing pa rin, wag magdadaldal ng sobrang lakas, ingatan yung laway ganun Sayang din kasi ‘yong ilong kong maganda (For me, removing face mask indoors is okay, but we should still maintain social distancing and avoid spitting saliva droplets when talking. I also want to show my beautiful nose off),” he jokingly said.
Meanwhile, senior citizen and storekeeper Nenita Dela Concepcion from Caloocan City shared a different take on mask-wearing and Covid-19 in general.
(Manila Bulletin file photo)
“Sa aking palagay pangkaraniwang sakit lang yan (Covid-19) tulad ng trangkaso nakakahawa din at mawawalan ka pang amoy, pang lasa, sasakit ang katawan, mahirap huminga, at nakakamatay. Kaya mas mabuting walang mask mas okay pakiramdam (Personally, I think Covid-19 is just like flu and other viral diseases, which dull our sense of smell, and taste, cause body aches, breathing difficulty, and death. So it’s better not to use masks, it’s easier to breathe),” Dela Concepcion said.
But not all citizens are in favor of this move. For marketing specialist Patricia Amores, 24 ,wearing a mask should be a must.
“I think wearing a mask should still be mandatory, although I have occasional asthma since we’re still in a pandemic. We should not relax even though movement restrictions are easing because there are still active and increasing cases,” she said.
Likewise, computer specialist Gerald Icocruz, 30, who works in a mall in Quezon City, said locals, including mall goers, should not be complacent and keep wearing their masks until the pandemic is over.
“I am not in favor of voluntary use of face masks in malls since many people go there, plus Covid is still here. If this measure applies to outdoor or open spaces, then it’s okay with me,” Icocruz said in Filipino.
On the other hand, freelance editor Joy Estrellado from San Pablo City, Laguna, said she is not in favor of lifting the mandatory use of face masks and believes that they are essential even without the threat of Covid-19.
“We are not ready. Many people are brave but do not have the resources for hospitalization when sickness comes, and the government doesn’t have a solid health care plan and programs for them,” Estrellado said.
According to Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, mask-wearing will still be required in public and medical transportation and medical facilities. Moreover, unvaccinated individuals, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities are encouraged to keep wearing their masks.
As of Oct. 26, DOH’s latest data revealed that the country recorded 1,121 new Covid cases nationwide, making the active cases 21,325. Most cases are from Metro Manila, with 6,751, followed by Calabarzon (3,798), Central Luzon (2,234), Western Visayas (1,638), and Davao (1,344).