Today, it was announced that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Executive Order No. 3, which means wearing of facemasks on outdoor settings is now optional. This brings the next step in ushering in a return to a level of normalcy as restrictions are gradually eased.
Top medical experts in the Philippines signified opposition to the measure, as it may send a wrong message that the public should no longer be afraid of COVID-19. Even Health OIC Maria Rosario Vergeire mentioned that the DOH’s position was to retain the current policy. To keep the story short, a balance had to be made between the economy and public health/safety.
“The voluntary wearing of face masks in open spaces and non-crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation is hereby allowed provided that not fully vaccinated individuals, senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals are highly encouraged to wear their masks and physical distancing will be observed at all times.”
– Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles
She mentioned that the public should still wear facemasks when indoor in a private or public establishment, when using public transportation, be it by land, air, or sea, plus in outdoor settings where it is not possible to maintain social distancing.
The Philippines seems to be following the steps taken by a number of countries, which include the United States, and several other countries in Europe.
Emman has been writing technical and feature articles since 2010. Prior to this, he became one of the instructors at Asia Pacific College in 2008, and eventually landed a job as Business Analyst and Technical Writer at Integrated Open Source Solutions for almost 3 years.
