A fellow of the OCTA Research Group on Friday, Sept. 30, encouraged the public to continue to wear face masks outdoors due to the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in Metro Manila.

“Bagamat wala na tayong mask mandate, importante na sa labas ho ay mag-mask muna tayo during this period kasi pataas ang mga kaso natin (Although we no longer have a mask mandate, it is important that we wear a mask outside during this period because our cases are increasing),” OCTA fellow Prof. Ranjit Rye said in a televised public briefing on Friday.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sept. 12 signed Executive Order (EO) No. 3 allowing the voluntary wearing of face masks in outdoor settings.

“Pataas po ang kaso natin bagamat yung bilis ng kaso ay bahagyang-bahagyang humina, the indicators show that we are at moderate risk level, based on OCTA’s metrics (Our cases are on the rise although the speed of the cases has slightly weakened, the indicators show that we are at a moderate risk level, based on OCTA’s metrics),” Rye said.

“It is important for us while the DOH (Department of Health) is still developing its triggers, tayo po talaga ay sobrang ingat dapat. Hindi pwedeng magpabaya, hindi pwedeng magkumpyansa. Kahit nasa labas tayo magmask na po tayo. Makakatulong yan sa pag-reduce ng viral load (We really have to be very careful, we can’t be careless, we can’t be complacent. Even when we’re outside, let’s wear a mask. That will help reduce the viral load),” he added.

Rye also asked the public to continue to adhere to other minimum public health standards, such as social distancing and regular hand washing, and getting a booster vaccine against Covid-19.

He said the increase in Covid-19 cases in Metro Manila may be due to a combination of different factors, such as waning immunity, increased mobility, the presence of new variants of Covid, and lack of compliance with minimum public health standards.

“I think all of those factors together can explain why we have a rise in cases and why people have to be careful in the next week or so,” Rye said.

Cebu remains in ‘low risk’ Covid status

Even before President Marcos issued EO No. 3, Cebu already implemented an optional face mask policy.

OCTA observed a slight increase in Cebu’s cases and plateauing of the trend; however, it remained in low risk Covid-19 status.

“We’re surprised by the data also. Bahagyang tumaas ng konti, tapos nag-plateau. We don’t know these numbers will hold yung trend will continue (We’re surprised by the data as well. It rose a little bit, then plateaued. We don’t know these numbers will hold and the trend will continue),” Rye said.

“Ang alam lang namin, based on the data noong more than two weeks na nag-implement sila ng no mask policy sa labas, the classification of Cebu continuously low risk. We hope this will continue (All we know is, based on the data more than two weeks ago that they implemented a no mask policy outside, the classification of Cebu is continuously low risk. We hope this will continue),” he added.

The scenario is different in Metro Manila, as well as in Calabarzon and Central Luzon, due to the rising Covid cases.

“Bagamat iba ang sitwasyon sa Cebu, we hope that the low-risk classification will continue with Cebu. Pero ang key diyan ho talaga ay ang pagsunod sa minimum public health standards at pagbakuna (Although the situation is different in Cebu, we hope that the low-risk classification will continue with Cebu. But the key there really is compliance with minimum public health standards and vaccination),” Rye said.

“Nag-eexit tayo from our old Covid plans and programs and moving towards a new normal. In this transition, kailangan po talagang mag-ingat kasi nandito pa ho ang Covid although it is less potent and has created less mortality than it did last year (We are exiting from our old Covid plans and programs and moving towards a new normal. In this transition, we really need to be careful because Covid is still here, although it is less potent and has created less mortality than it did last year),” he added.