Health authorities appealed for caution amid the eagerness of the business and transportation sectors to relax the rules on social distancing and the government’s move to further ease the mask mandate in the country.
Dr. Anna Ong-Lim, a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases, said the population remains vulnerable to new and more infectious subvariants of the coronavirus, and students in particular should continue wearing masks in classrooms when the full implementation of in-person classes begin next week.
“Kids have nothing to lose if they continue to wear masks especially in school settings,” she said during an online forum held by the Department of Health this week.
Another infectious disease specialist, Dr. Rontgene Solante, said making masking voluntary indoors would still pose a risk and could lead to spikes in cases, also due to the emergence of new subvariants.
“We really have doubts about it, especially now that the XBB and XBC variants are already here and then you make the face mask optional indoors. Then there will be really a risk,” he said, referring to the announcement that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would soon issue an executive order making mask wearing voluntary indoors, except in medical facilities and public transportation.
DOH epidemiology bureau director Alethea De Guzman maintained that face masks remain an effective tool against infections. “With the removal of another layer of protection… it is crucial that we monitor the effect not only on the cases but also on admissions,” she said.
It is easy to downplay the threat of COVID-19 as we rush to return to normalcy and look forward to the recovery of the economy. However, Filipinos have to remember that we still cannot afford to throw caution to the potentially infectious wind, especially with a health care system that remains fragile and could easily collapse if stressed by another series of surges in infections. Even if mask and social distancing mandates are relaxed by government officials, it may be best to follow our better judgement and continue exercising the protocols and precautions that have kept us relatively safe from the coronavirus until the scientists and experts can declare it truly safe to lower our guard.*
