The Department of the Interior of Local Government (DILG) on Thursday expressed its support on calls to further relax protocols on the wearing of face shields.
In a virtual interview with PTV last Thursday, Interior spokesman Jonathan Malaya said they will be proposing to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to just limit face shield use in hospitals.
“When you are in a hospital, since it is a high risk environment, the DILG thinks face shield use is needed,” Malaya explained.
Malaya added he is expecting Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to make the recommendation in the next IATF meeting.
“At the end of the day…it will be the decision of the IATF,” Malaya said.
The IATF first required the mandatory wearing of face shields in public places through its Resolution 88, which was issued last year, to minimize the possible spread of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Last September, President Duterte authorized the easing of the face shield regulation by limiting its wearing in closed and crowded spaces, and if a person will be engaging in an activity, which will close contact with other people.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the face shield policy would be subjected to another review amid the recent downward trend in new Covid-19 infections and increasing number of fully vaccinated individuals nationwide.