OPTIONAL USE OF MASKS ‘OKAY,’ SAYS EXPERT

THE optional wearing of face masks in open spaces is not seen to cause an increase in Covid-19 cases in the country, an expert said, citing Cebu City’s Covid situation.

In a Laging Handa public briefing, Octa Research fellow Guido David said on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, that Cebu City’s Covid-19 cases continue to decrease despite the City allowing people to go maskless in public places.

“If we strictly follow the executive order that the optional wearing of face masks is only allowed in open spaces, we think this will not have a significant effect,” he said in Tagalog.

“In Cebu, the number of cases is still going down despite the wearing of face masks being optional and a lot of people are no longer wearing them outdoors. This means that this is not the cause if ever there is an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases,” he added.

David was referring to Executive Order 3 signed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. that allows the voluntary wearing of face masks in “open spaces and non-crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation” across the country.

The elderly, immunocompromised individuals and those who have not yet completed their Covid-19 vaccination are “highly encouraged” to continue wearing masks in all public areas to ensure their protection, the EO said.

A week before Marcos issued the EO, the Cebu City Government allowed the optional wearing of masks in all areas, whether open or not, within its jurisdiction.

David said the increase in the mobility of people including the resumption of face-to-face classes remains to be a big factor that may affect an increase in Covid-19 cases in the country.

‘Slight increase’

Currently, David said a slight increase in cases in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Pangasinan are being monitored.

He described the increase in cases as “clustering,” noting that the trend in the Visayas and Mindanao is downward.

David said the positivity rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) climbed to 14.5 percent, as of September 14, from 12.7 percent on September 7.

He said the reproduction number in the NCR rose to 1.14 from 1.03 during the week prior while the average daily attack rate increased to 6.12 per 100,000 population or under moderate risk classification.

David, however, said the increase in Covid-19 statistics in Metro Manila is “not a cause of concern” as the healthcare utilization rate remains low.

It is, however, important to inform the people about the increase so they can “act accordingly” and protect themselves, he said.

Survey

In a survey they conducted, David said it showed that 60 to 70 percent of respondents said they will continue to wear masks despite the government’s move to make it optional in open spaces.

“We already know how to protect ourselves and if we are needed to wear masks, we are willing to do so. Personal responsibility is a huge aspect, and I think people have already accepted that,” David said.