DOH says commuters must continue to wear face mask

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said commuters must keep their face mask on while waiting in line for public transportation as the easing of the wearing of the protective cover looms. 

“Pag dating sa public transport, kahit kayo ay nakapila lang, kailangan niyo isuot ang mask,” DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a media briefing.

[When it comes to public transport, even if we are just waiting in line, we need to wear our masks.]

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) earlier recommended the voluntary wearing of face masks in open spaces by year-end.

Vergeire said that face masks should only be removed in “low-risk settings” and by “low-risk individuals.”

“This is going to be outdoors. Pangalawa, this can only be done among low-risk settings and low risk individuals. ‘Yun pong hindi crowded, ‘yun pong maayos ang daloy ng hangin, maari kayo magtanggal ng mask,” she said.

[This is going to be outdoors. Second, this can only be done in low-risk settings and with low-risk individuals. We can remove our face masks in areas that are not crowded and with good ventilation.]

“Kapag kayo ay hindi nakakatanda, wala kayong comorbidity or immunocompromised conditions, maari po. Kung sa tingin ninyo, based on your risk assessment, pwede niyo tanggalin ang mask niyo,” she added.

[If you are not senior citizens, don’t have comorbidities or don't have  immunocompromised conditions, we can also remove. One can remove his face mask based on his risk assessment.)

Vergeire also urged parents to continue the use of face masks for their children, especially since classes are held indoors most of the time.

“What we would like to give as message to the public regarding this matter, kailangan tayo, in our own way, ma-assess natin ‘yung risk natin,” she said.

[What we would like to give as message to the public regarding this matter, we need to, in our own way, assess the risks.]

Malacañang previously said that the recommendation is to make optional the wearing of face masks in open spaces or non-crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation, provided that the country’s COVID-19 booster uptake improves.—LDF, GMA News