WEARING face shield in areas under Alert Level 3 and lower is no longer obligatory, said President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
“Ang decision ko is okay, tanggalin ninyo ‘yung shield,” President Duterte said in weekly public address on COVID-19. “Puwede na ninyong… You dispense with the shield but not the mask.”
But he underscored that wearing face masks will always be a part of people’s day-to-day life as a safety measure against the COVID-19 virus that is still rampant.
The chief executive clarified, however, that places under Alert Level 5 and places with a high risk of COVID transmission, such as hospitals, will still require mandatory use of face shield.
In a memorandum released by the Office of the President on November 15, areas that are still required to wear face shield are areas under granular lockdowns and enhanced community quarantine or ECQ.
Areas under Alert Level 4, according to the memorandum, shall have their LGUs dictate whether or not wearing of face shield would still be essential. In areas under Alert Levels 3, 2, and 1, the use of face shield will be voluntary.
Metro Manila is currently under Alert Level 2 until November 30.
