IATF recommends voluntary wearing of face masks in open spaces by year end

MALACANANG on Wednesday said the Inter-Agency Task Force of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has recommended the voluntary wearing of face masks in open spaces by year-end amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles in a press briefing said the IATF’s recommendation is to make optional the wearing of face mask in open spaces or non-crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation, provided that the COVID-19 booster uptake in the country improves.

“Doon sa IATF, ang kanilang rekomendasyon ay pag-liberalize ng ating mask wearing mandate and make mask wearing outdoors voluntary across the country,” said Cruz-Angeles, who was in Singapore, via video conference.

Cruz-Angeles stressed that this is not yet a policy, but the pilot testing of the optional face mask use will be conducted towards the end of the year.

“Ang tuluyan na lifting ng mandatory mask mandate ay ipi-pilot towards the last quarter of 2022, provided na may improvement doon sa COVID booster vaccination coverage,” she said.

Senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals are, however, still highly encouraged to continue wearing face masks, she added.