No DOH decision yet on face shields

People wearing face masks and face shields. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has asked for one more week to study whether or not to remove the face shield requirement for people who are going out of their homes, according to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has received numerous suggestions to scrap the face shield requirement.

The issue was discussed during the latest IATF meeting, but Vergeire said the DOH had asked for more time to look into the data on face shield use.

She noted that when it recommended the use of face shields, it used the evidence and basis provided by its experts.

A group is now evaluating the benefits of using face shields and face masks as protection against COVID-19, she said.

“We just need evidence so that we could have a more solid recommendation to the IATF,” she added. —Leila B. Salaverria