The government’s pandemic task force is still in the process of deciding whether or not to separate the Covid-19 restrictions with the current implementation of alert level system.
The proposal of decoupling the restrictions from the alert level system was discussed during the recent meeting of members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), said Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary and Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Feb. 28, Vergeire said that local governments units (LGUs) recently answered a survey if they agree to the proposal to make the alert level system a “risk communication tool” rather than a “prescribing tool for restrictions.”
LGUs were also asked about the frequency of alert level system reporting and if the implementation of minimum public health standards and restrictions should be within their authority and not anymore to the national government, said Vergeire.
“Base doon sa resulta na iyon, nagkaroon ng rekomendasyon na (Based on the result, there was a recommendation) within the IATF but we cannot say yet because kailangan pa namin ipadala uli for ad referendum kung papayag na lahat ng members (we still need to send it again for ad referendum if all the members will agree) and we will be informing all of you after that,” she said.
“Bottom line would be, napag-usapan na… nandyan na tayo sa direction na (it has been discussed… we are already in the direction that) we would like the alert level system would not be a prescribing tool for restrictions anymore but to just be a risk communication tool for our local governments and our people so that we are all guided on what should be done kung saka-sakaling anong risk level ng bawat area sa ating bansa (depending on the risk level of each area in our country),” she noted.
Masking
Meanwhile, Vergeire also emphasized the importance of assessing one’s risk to know if it is necessary to wear a face mask or not.
The statement comes after Hong Kong announced that it will already lift its mask mandate for both indoor and outdoor settings.
“Dito sa atin (Here), we already have executive orders coming from the President where masking is voluntary for indoors and outdoors. So, we leave it to our citizens to decide kung sa tingin nila kailangan nilang mag mask or hindi (if they think they need to wear a mask or not),” she said.
“Maaring kakaiba lang ng konti doon sa ibang bansa dahil sa kanila talaga sinabi na 'hindi na kailangan ng mask,' tayo sinasabi natin 'kayo po ang mag decide kung sa tingin niyo, kailangan niyo pang mag mask or hindi' lalo na kung alam niyo na vulnerable kayo (This may be a little different from other countries because their instruction was 'there is no need for a mask,' while us— 'you decide if you think you need to wear a mask or not,' especially if you know that you are vulnerable),” she added.
Citing a recent survey from a certain research firm, Vergeire said that most Filipinos will still wear a mask even if the pandemic ends.
“Meron silang (They have) 2,400 respondents and among these, 30 percent ng (of the) adult population will still opt to wear their mask or will continue to wear their mask --six months after the declaration that the pandemic has ended. And around 28 percent that they will still continue to wear their mask one year after the Covid-19 pandemic has been declared ended,” she said.
“So, ito ay isang pagpapatunay na ang mga Pilipino po talaga has (this is a proof that Filipinos really have) found value in wearing of the mask and would really want to protect themselves and their family,” she added.