DOH OIC: Lifting mask mandate may cause surge in Covid-19 cases

THE Department of Health (DOH) on Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, backed some health experts’ fears that lifting the mandatory wearing of face masks may cause a surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the country.

In a press conference, DOH Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Maria Rosario Vergeire said there is no denying that removing one of the basic health protocols may cause an uptick in cases.

“Expectedly, cases may really increase because of mobility, faceto-face classes and because we will lift the mask mandate outdoors for low-risk settings and low-risk individuals,” said Vergeire.

She said based on their latest projections, in the National Capital Region alone, Covid-19 cases may surge to over 5,000 cases per day by October.

“For the National Capital Region, if the booster shot remains with slow uptake, there are no new variants emerging, and the mobility remains to be at this level, we might be seeing around 1,259 to 5,375 cases per day,” said Vergeire.

On Wednesday, Sept. 7, Vergeire said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of

Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) has recommended to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. the optional or voluntary wearing of face masks outdoors nationwide.

On Thursday, Sept. 8, the health official said the agency’s position is to retain the face mask mandate but they agreed to a compromise as the IATF-MEID has to balance health and economy.

Several health experts immediately expressed concerns over the recommendation, saying it may result in another surge in Covid-19 cases.

The Office of the President is already expected to come out with an executive order (EO) on the masking policy anytime.

In line with the mask mandate, Vergeire said they are reiterating their appeal to the public to get vaccinated—both the primary series and booster shots.

“We call on everyone to get inoculated. These vaccines will save all of us from severe and critical infections,” she said.

The health official also encouraged everybody to have the sense of responsibility on knowing when and where they should wear masks.

“If they know they are elderly, with comorbidities, immunocompromised, youth and taking public transportation, we should still wear face masks everywhere we go,” she said.

The DOH OIC asked local government authorities to closely implement the forthcoming masking policy and its guidelines.

“If the distinct places, where voluntary masking can be implemented, is not properly enforced, the expected rise in cases may really happen,” said Vergeire. / HDT /