DOH recommends use of improvised masks by those outside health care facilities

The public may opt to use improvised face masks as protection for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outside hospital settings, according to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Wednesday.

"Halimbawa nasa bahay tayo, we recommend pwede naman 'yung mga improvised masks katulad ng mga cloth masks although it doesn't provide as much protection compared to the surgical and the N95 pero ang sinasabi natin ang risk naman kapag nasa community ay mababa. 'Yung sa health care workers po ay napakataas," Vergeire said in a virtual press briefing.

She added that the Department of Health (DOH) will soon release official guidelines on the standard use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in different settings amid the COVID-19 situation.

"Ayaw po nating makipag-compete pa itong personal gamit ng ating community doon po sa pangangailangan ng ating mga tauhan sa ating health care facility," Vergeire said.

The government mandated the wearing of face masks in areas under enhanced community quarantine, and urged the public to wear even reusable ones, and handkerchiefs when they go out for essential purposes to lessen the transmission of the virus.

As the COVID-19 became a global pandemic, a spike in the prices of protective equipment such as surgical and N95 face masks was observed.

Procured and donated PPEs are being distributed strategically to various hospitals across the country, according to the DOH. —Dona Magsino/LBG, GMA News