Filipinos being required to wear masks again unlikely, health department says

If you’ve been enjoying (at your own risk) the country’s mask-optional policy that was implemented late last year, then you’ll be interested to hear that the Department of Health (DOH) isn’t planning on requiring the public to wear masks again, despite the recent increase in COVID-19 cases.

About 2,386 additional reported COVID-19 cases were logged in the country from April 10 to 16, with the Philippines’ test positivity rate rising from 6.9 percent to 7.6 percent.

DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing on Tuesday that the agency was not considering the return of mask mandates, but encouraged Filipinos to keep wearing masks in crowded areas and places with poor ventilation.

“What’s most important is that our hospitals are not seeing an increase in the number of severe and critical admissions,” Vergeire added.

Last year, the health department argued against the potential lifting of mask mandates, arguing that it was still too soon for people to unmask even if cases were down.

Meanwhile, the city government of Manila said that it was reconsidering its policy on the use of face masks indoors and outdoors after it observed the recent rise in cases.