The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) made an official statement on Friday, Nov. 19, clarifying that the wearing of face shields may still be mandatory in areas under Alert Levels 1 to 3 upon the discretion of private establishments.
This announcement came in just four days after President Rodrigo Duterte approved the IATF’s recommendation to forego the controversial face plastic, especially now that COVID-19 cases are at a steady plateau.
Cabinet secretary Karlo Nograles said employers have the option to impose the face shield requirement within their establishments. He said, “With regard to the voluntary use of face shields, [….] it is hereby clarified that the same is without prejudice to employers still requiring their use for their employees and/or customers,”
Areas under Alert Level 4 follow the same rule: businesses have the choice to impose or lift the use of face shields within their premises. It remains a requirement for health care facilities and areas under Alert Level 5.
The government’s face shield policy has spurred a long-running debate centered on scrutiny for the plastic’s use as a protective device. Having been the only country in the world still requiring face shields for the past year, many think that these plastic items lack scientific basis on its effectiveness against the virus. The health department insists, however, that the policy is guided by expert medical opinion.
Several local government units have scrapped the face shield policy even before the president made an official announcement lifting the requirement last Monday, Nov. 15.
(By: Bianca Floirendo)