Duque: Mask-wearing, one of most appropriate means to curb spread of COVID-19

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III underscored that wearing of face masks is one of the most appropriate measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections.

Duque, citing the survey from Johns Hopkins University, said the masking compliance of Filipinos is around 91% to 96% which means that 9 out of 10 Filipinos wear face masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that it is one of the appropriate measures in placed amid the pandemic.

The wearing of face mask is also a minimum requirement of public health protocols that is aimed at curbing the spread of the viral disease and is found to be effective despite the “superspreader events” that were held in the past months.

“Para sa akin isa ito sa pinaka-angkop na tugon sa pandemyang ito, yung masking natin in particular at yung minimum public health standards na inuna natin social distancing, hand hygiene, ngayon adequate ventilation yung airflow so ito yung mga bagay bagay na tingin ko hanggang ngayon kahit marami nang dumaan na superspreader events tandaan mo nagkaroon tayo ng caravan, rallies, election, Holy Week, [at] Ramadan,” he said in The Mangahas Interviews aired on Friday.

(For me this is one of the most appropriate response to this pandemic, our masking in particular and the minimum public health standards that we prioritize social distancing, hand hygiene, now adequate ventilation the airflow so these are the things I think until now even though many superspreader events have passed remember we had caravans, rallies, elections, Holy Week, [and] Ramadan.)

Duque earlier said he is hoping the incoming Marcos administration will continue the face mask mandate even if the number of COVID-19 cases dropped to less than 200 recently.

President Rodrigo Duterte had said the mandatory wearing of face masks will not be lifted  in the Philippines until the end of his term.

“Ipagpatuloy na lang ng susunod na administrasyon (The next administration should continue it) … ‘wag tanggalin completely (do not remove it completely),” the Health chief said.

The Philippines on Friday logged 287 new COVID-19 cases, increasing the nationwide COVID-19 tally to 3,692,617.

Based on the DOH’s latest data, the country's active case count continued to increase to 2,697 from 2,529 on Thursday. -- Richa Noriega/BAP, GMA News