Health experts’ recommendation on face shields may be out on Thursday — Duque

SHIELD ON A mural in Singalong district, Manila, depicts a man wearing a face shield as the debate on its use outdoors continues. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — The recommendation of health experts on the use of face shields may be out on Thursday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Tuesday.

“Hintayin natin ang recommendation ng Technical Advisory Group of Experts kasi hindi pwedeng tayo-tayo lang ang magdedesisyon ng mga ganito na hindi naman tayo experts,” Duque said at the Laging Handa public briefing.

(Let us wait for the recommendation of the Technical Advisory Group of experts because we cannot just decide on our own if we are not experts.)

“Antabayanan natin. Hindi na magtatagal. Baka sa Huwebes ay magkaroon na ng formal or official recommendation ang Technical Advisory Group of Experts,” he added.

(Let us wait for it. It will not take long. Maybe we will have the formal or official recommendation from the Technical Advisory Group of Experts on Thursday.)

Duque, however, said he favors a “risk-based” requirement for wearing face shields. He said the use of face shields may be voluntary under alert level 2 and required under higher alert levels.

“Kung ako ang tatanungin, ito ay personal, pwedeng gawing voluntary under certain circumstances, siguro alert level 2, pero ‘yung mga 3Cs kailangan pa rin tayo magface shield diyan,” he said.

(If I will be asked, my personal take on this is to make this voluntary under certain circumstances, may be under Alert Level 2, but still require it in 3C settings.)

“Mas maganda kung ipagpatuloy natin ‘yan pero siguro voluntary kapag nasa Alert Level 2 and strictly using these in the 3Cs context at kapag nag-Alert Level 3 ay gawing mandatory ulit,” Duque said.

(It is better to continue it but maybe make it voluntary under Alert Level 2 and strictly use these in the 3Cs context and make it mandatory under Alert Level 3.)

The 3Cs mean closed spaces, crowded areas, and in close contact settings.

“Ang tawag dito ay risk-based use of face shield,. Kapag nagtaasan na ulit ang kaso, pwede nating gawing mandatory sa Alert Level 3 and 4. May mga ganung flexibility dapat,” said Duque.

(We call this risk-based use of face shields. If cases increase again, we can make it mandatory under Alert Level 3 and 4. There should be some flexibility.)

EDV