Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 10) — The country’s Transportation chief prefers that all commuters continue wearing face masks, as the national government is poised to make the health measure optional outdoors.
The Department of Transportation on Saturday said Secretary Jaime Bautista is in favor of keeping the face mask protocol in all public transport “because prevailing infection numbers show the virus has not been fully controlled and we should not let our guard down.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. verbally approved the Inter-Agency Task Force’s recommendation to ease the face mask rule in non-crowded outdoor areas, Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said Wednesday.
RELATED: Vergeire: Optional masking only recommended for low-risk areas, individuals
An executive order would have to be signed for the rule to be officially relaxed. Vergeire said Marcos may issue this order “immediately,” although no timeline has been given.
The country has kept the face mask protocol for over two years, with several health experts repeatedly saying the protective equipment helps reduce coronavirus transmission.
