DOH not considering mask mandate return amid rising COVID-19 cases | Inquirer News

DOH not considering mask mandate return amid rising COVID-19 cases

/ 02:22 PM April 18, 2023

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said the government is not considering the return of the mask mandate amid the rising COVID-19 cases in the country.

“Hindi po tayo nagko-consider na ibalik ang masking mandate,” said Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire in a press briefing.

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(We are not considering the return of the mask mandate.)

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However, Vergeire still encouraged the public to wear masks.

“We encourage everybody, kahit naman po noon, na tayo po ay piliin natin, na alam natin kung kailan tayo magma-mask,” she said.

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(We encourage everybody to choose to wear a mask and know when to wear a mask.)

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Senior citizens and people with comorbidities, as well as people who are in densely-populated areas and places with poor ventilation, should continue wearing masks, according to the health official.

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DOH previously reported that the country’s daily average number of COVID-19 cases rose to 341 last week, a 23-percent increase compared to 278 cases from the week before.

Metro Manila and 13 provinces also saw their positivity rate exceed the 5-percent threshold recommended by the World Health Organization to indicate that transmission of the virus was under control, according to independent pandemic monitor Octa Research.

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As of Monday, the Philippines reported a total of 4,086,350 cases, including 9,723 active cases, 4,010,186 recoveries, and 66,441 deaths, according to DOH’s COVID-19 tracker.

READ: COVID positivity in Metro Manila, 13 provinces tops 5%

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TAGS: COVID-19, DoH, mask, mask mandate

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