SPEAKER Lord Allan Velasco has reiterated his support for the scrapping of the policy on the mandatory use of face shields for the general public, insisting that these clear plastic guards are “all but useless” when it comes to preventing the spread of the coronavirus.
“There are still no solid medical and scientific proof that face shields are effective deterrents to the spread of the deadly COVID-19,” Velasco said.
“There are, however, several published medical studies noting the doubtful efficacy of face shields in preventing aerosols from spreading, which is primarily how coronavirus infects us,” he added.
Velasco maintained that the protection against the airborne transmission of COVID-19 is already sufficiently addressed by the proper use of face masks.
He said studies conducted by physician-researchers of Wayne State University School of Medicine indicate that combining the use of face shields and masks made little difference over the use of masks alone.
The Speaker also cited an article by researchers from the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID), the country’s leading professional association of specialists in infectious diseases and microbiology.
PSMID researchers have concluded that the use of face shields may help doctors and health care workers against splashes and sprays of blood or other bodily secretions, but does not give additional protection against respiratory aerosol such as those present in COVID-19 transmission.
Velasco issued the statement after some local government units have announced they were scrapping the mandatory wearing of face shields in their areas.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has recently signed an executive order (EO) which specified that wearing of face shields would be voluntary in the so-called 3Cs: crowded places, close contact settings, and confined and enclosed spaces.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno likewise issued an EO stating that the use of face shields would be “non-mandatory” in the city except for medical and hospital facilities.
Other Metro Manila mayors have also announced that they were in favor of scrapping the use of face shields, except in hospitals and possibly even public utility vehicles, now that many residents in their areas have been vaccinated.
