However he stressed that wearing face masks will always be a part of people’s day-to-day life as a safety measure against COVID-19 that is still rampant.
“You dispense with the shield but not the mask, ” Duterte said in his weekly Talk to the Nation aired over PTV and Radyo Pilipinas last November 15.
He, however, clarified that places under Alert Level 5 and places with a high risk of COVID transmission, such as hospitals, will still require mandatory use of a face shield.
In a memorandum released by the Office of the President on November 15, areas that are still required to wear face shields are areas under granular lockdowns and enhanced community quarantine or ECQ.
Areas under Alert Level 4, according to the memorandum, shall have their LGUs dictate whether or not wearing of face shield would still be essential. In areas under Alert Levels 3, 2, and 1, the use of face shields will be voluntary.
Metro Manila is currently under Alert Level 2 until November 30.
Meanwhile, Duterte urged local government units to pass ordinances banning children aged 12 below from malls and other public spaces to protect them from COVID-19.
He said children below 12 years old or those who are still unvaccinated and at risk of getting the virus should not be allowed in public places, as per the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases.
“Again, to the parents and guardians of minors who are unvaccinated, please be mindful of the risk. Part of caring for them is thinking about their safety. I hope no one among our children will get COVID-19,” he said.
Duterte’s reminder came as the country experiences a downward trend in COVID-19 infections, which has led to lowering of quarantine restrictions in most areas in the country, including Metro Manila.
The President said that while he understands the eagerness of parents to bring their children outdoors again, the government’s decision to reopen more establishments and allow more mobility is aimed at helping the economy recover.
Despite some relaxation in restrictions, the public must be cautious, Duterte said, as he cited a recent report where a two-year-old child was tested positive for COVID-19 after visiting a mall.(Armando Fenequito)
Photo from Presidential Communications FB