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To wear a face shield or no face shield? Government officials contradict each other’s announcement about face shields

Later on that day, Roque clarified that despite the President’s remarks, the regulations regarding face shields remain unchanged until Duterte decides on the recommendation of the IATF.

Different government branches and officials are giving contradicting statements about the regulation that requires the use of face shields outdoors.

On June 16, a Department of Health (DOH) official stated that face shields may not be worn outdoors as the risk of transmitting COVID-19 in the setting is low.

“Ang face shields, kailangan naman talaga ‘yan pag nasa indoor ka, nasa mall ka, or kapag may interaction ka face-to-face inside.” 

Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega responded after he was asked whether workers who are working outdoors, such as couriers or construction workers, are still required to wear face shields or if they can be exempted from the mandate.

“Pero kapag nasa outside naman kasi, alam naman natin na the risk of transmission is very low lalung lalo na kapag naglalakad ka lang sa kalye o magta-trabaho ka kasi maka-affect ‘yung moist nito so pwede ninyo tanggalin ‘yan.”

A day after Vega’s answer, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who was in a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte, tweeted that the latter agreed that face shields should only be worn when indoors.

“The President agreed that face shields should only be used in the hospitals. Allowed us to remove ours!” Sotto wrote.

Officials were then seen reminding everyone to put on their face shields before boarding the EDSA bus carousel.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the opposite a few hours later. He remarked in response to Vega’s statement, saying that face shields on top of face masks are still required but added that the topic will be discussed in a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

The IATF runs as the Government’s policy-making body when it comes to the country’s COVID-19 response.

However, the Presidential Spokesperson contradicted Nograles’ statement by attesting to Sotto’s tweet.

“The President did say that the wearing of face shield should only be in hospitals,” Roque said during an online press briefing.

“All I’m confirming is the President said that and of course what the President said becomes a presidential policy.”

Later on that day, Roque clarified that despite the President’s remarks, the regulations regarding face shields remain unchanged until Duterte decides on the recommendation of the IATF.

“While waiting for the President’s decision on the matter, the existing policy on the use of face shields remains in effect.”

The task force then decided to recommend to the President during the IATF meeting to require face shields only in enclosed or indoor spaces. These are inside hospitals, schools, workplaces, commercial establishments, public transport, and terminals.

On June 21, President Duterte has decided to again require people to wear face shields both indoors and outdoors. The mandate was changed only seven hours after officials announced an end to the requirement of wearing a face shield outdoors.

“Acting on the advice of health experts and in view of the Delta variant, PRRD declared that the wearing of face shields, both indoor and outdoor, is still mandatory,” Roque announced.

Netizens reacted to the inconsistency of the government’s decision regarding face shields.

Some asked the DOH or experts to explain how face shields can protect people from COVID-19.

Other researchers remain confused about the issue.

“Ano po ba dapat tanggalin? Yung face shield o yung mga nakaupo?” a Twitter user wrote.

https://twitter.com/SirRenzSaavedra/status/1407161179663847426

The government’s decision was also compared to the dance cha-cha as it continuously goes forward and backward.

The data that DOH presented was then questioned by the netizens.

“Is it honestly so hard to listen to science that we choose to listen to the whims of an incoherent old man?”

https://twitter.com/andy_crush/status/1406944032752738310

“When I mention about the face shield, I was only shooting the breeze with the members of the Congress who were there. I never said with finality that we will do away with the face shield,” Duterte explained the Senate President’s initial tweet regarding face shields.

He insisted that when it comes to COVID-19 mandates, “the stricter you are, the better.”

Written by J M

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