Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 15) — The government should just stick with its face shield policy as it provides an additional layer of protection especially for children, according to the president of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA).
Despite recent moves of some local government units to scrap the protocol except in medical facilities, PMA president Dr. Benito Atienza on Monday said face shields can protect individuals not just against COVID-19 but also from cough and the common cold.
READ: Manila City scraps face shield policy, but Palace says order is ‘null and void’
“Ituloy pa rin natin. Mayroon naman sila, gagamitin na lang nila,” he said when asked during a virtual briefing about his thoughts on calls to drop the face shield policy.
[Translation: Let’s keep the policy. They already have it, why not use it.]
Atienza stressed that children aged 11 and below must wear face shields, especially in shopping malls and crowded places. He also urged parents and guardians not to bring these children to malls, as vaccines remain limited to 12-year-olds and older minors.
He said they may stop using face shields in open areas where proper social distancing can be observed.
Resigned presidential spokesperson Harry Roque last Friday said the pandemic response task force already submitted its recommendation on the mandatory use of face shields to President Rodrigo Duterte.
