Face shields required in malls, markets

*A man sells face shields along UN Avenue in Manila on Sunday. Some local government units have made mandatory the wearing of mask and face shield in public areas. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN*

The wearing of face shields is now required in commercial establishments in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces as further protection against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The National Task Force Covid-19 (NTF) decided to make face shields mandatory not just in public transportation and the workplace but also in enclosed public spaces like shopping malls and markets as well, Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said on Friday.

NTF led by Presidential peace adviser Carlito Galvez Jr., is the implementing arm of government policies on the Covid-19 response.

Citing studies, the Department of Health (DoH) has said wearing a face shield with a face mask offers 99-percent protection against the novel coronavirus.

The use of face shields in the workplace and in public transportation was required as Metro Manila eased into the less restrictive general community quarantine (GCQ).

A joint memorandum from the Departments of Transportation, Labor and Employment, and Trade and Industry spells out the “No face shield, no ride” policy.

The DoH and the World Health Organization have recommended the use of face masks to reduce the transmission of Covid-19 through respiratory droplets.

As of Thursday, health authorities reported 4,338 new Covid-19 cases in the country as the national tally climbed to 178,022.

The 727 new recoveries pushed the total to 114,114, and the death toll has reached 2,884 with 88 new deaths.

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Article and Photo originally posted by The Manila Times last August 22, 2020 and written by Catherine S. Valente, TMT.