DOH: Fully-vaccinated individuals should still wear masks

The Department of Health on Saturday said that fully vaccinated individuals should still wear face masks as scientific evidence shows that they can still contract and spread COVID-19.

“Ngayon po ang siyensiya at ang ebidensya hindi pa po sapat para makapagbigay tayo ng ganitong rekomendasyon mula sa Kagawaran ng Kalusugan para magtanggal ng mask o ‘di kaya makakapunta na sa mga pwesto nang walang mask ang mga bakunado na,” Vergeire said during Laging Handa briefing.

(Given the science and evidence, the Department of Health still cannot recommend that fully vaccinated individuals can leave home without masks.)

“Ang pinanghahawakan po nating ebidensya na ang isang bakunadong individual can still be infected and can still infect others,” she added.

(The evidence we have says that a fully-vaccinated individual can still be infected and can infect others.)

The DOH’s reiterated its view on masks a day after it rejected a proposal for “vaccine passes” for vaccinated individuals entering indoor establishments.

“Even if you are fully vaccinated… kailangan pa rin po natin magpatupad ng minimum health protocols at ito pong sinasabing vaccine pass ay hindi pa rin po mairerekomenda ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan,” Vergeire said in a press briefing Friday.

(Those vaccinated still need to follow minimum health protocols. The DOH does not recommend yet this proposed vaccine pass.)

So far, 2,025,038 Filipinos have already received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while 514,655 individuals are now fully vaccinated.

In his Thursday night public address, President Rodrigo Duterte placed Metro Manila and nearby provinces Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna or the National Capital Region Plus area under a general community quarantine "with heightened restrictions" from May 15 until May 31, 2021.

Under the GCQ with “heightened restrictions,” indoor dine-in services in the NCR Plus shall be at 20% venue or seating capacity while outdoor or al fresco dining shall be at 50% venue or seating capacity.

Outdoor tourist attractions in the NCR Plus, on the other hand, may open at 30% capacity with strict adherence to minimum public health standards.

On Friday, the Department of Health reported 6,784 fresh COVID-19 cases, bringing the total tally to 1,131,467. — DVM, GMA News