MALLS INCLUDED

Wearing of face shield inside commercial establishments now mandatory, says Palace

The wearing of face shields inside enclosed spaces, including malls, is now mandatory, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Friday.

“Napagkasunduan po ng National Task Force (NTF) na bukod po roon sa pagsusuot ng face shield sa pampublikong sasakyan saka sa trabaho, dapat isuot na rin ang face shield sa mga nakasaradong commercial establishment, gaya ng mga malls,” Roque said in an interview on state-run PTV-4.

The NTF, led by Secretary Carlito Galvez, is the implementing arm of government policies on COVID-19 response.

The goverment initially required the wearing of face shield inside public transportation and work places.

As it is, persons outside their residence are already required to wear face mask or face penalties.

The Department of Health, citing studies, said wearing face shield and face mask offers 99% protection against COVID-19.

The Philippines has 178,022 confirmed COVID-19 cases so far. Of this number, 114,114 have recovered and 2,883 died.

The number of active cases, meanwhile, is at 61,025. —KBK, GMA News