Reading Comprehension

WHEN the most recent headline of a local paper screamed that wearing of masks was still mandatory in the city’s public transports, puzzled reactions from many seemed to say, what, again?

One of the tricycle drivers I passed by, huddling near the public market was heard to comment he surely thought it had been announced that the ordinance on wearing of masks was already lifted. Indeed, at the row of jeepneys awaiting their turn to be filled up” not far ahead, it’s easy to notice that only a few of the already-seated passengers are masked. Even the dispatcher, the person calling out possible riders, was noticeably bare-faced.

At the grocery store, where I later found myself back at my favorite queue, the Senior Express, a line of my fellow age groupers stood patiently for their turn at the cashier counter. At last, I thought at first, good on you guys! All of them were wearing masks, the blue rectangles conspicuous from afar.

The problem was, while some wore it low enough to cover only their necks, the rest had their mouths protected all right but not enough to protect their noses, the intended target. To compound matters, many were animatedly deep in Maritess conversation. I thought it must be difficult for these few to breathe, even as I was likewise tempted to share; masks worn at the neck do not protect one from sore throat if that were their intention.

Back at home, when I informed my wife of the newspaper report, she checked the existing city regulation online, regarding the continued wearing of face masks and sure enough, it was still very much in effect. It had never even been revoked in the first place, she said.

It should be noted that when the president issued EO 7 in October which allowed for the “voluntarily” wearing of face masks in both indoor and outdoor spaces, the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force still reminded the public that masks were still mandatory in public transportation and medical health facilities.

However, the Christmas season happened, and I’m thinking, perhaps it must have been the blur celebrations that made us forget this. The headline (though a bummer) is just meant as a friendly reminder. As an afterthought, could it also be, in our rush to be “out of the gate” from all Covid restrictions, we were fast-reading our way to new freedom? And obviously missing out on the fine print? That might also be the case.

So, if you’re reading this, please don’t misread it. In confined medical spaces, like hospitals, and then also on all city public transports, be like Batman, wear a mask.