In Davao City, use of face shield now optional; establishments may still require it

As the number of Covid-19 cases continue to decrease in Davao City, the local government has eased restrictions including the mandatory wearing of face shields in public transportation and establishments. KARLOS MANLUPIG

DAVAO CITY — The local government here has made the use of face shields in crowded places only optional as the city continues to curb the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Mayor Sara Duterte signed Executive Order 51 on November 2 which specified that use of face shields will be voluntary in the so-called 3Cs: “crowded places, close contact settings, and confined and enclosed spaces.”

“For all other places, the use of the face shield shall not be required,” the executive order added.

As a basis, the order specified that on September 22, President Rodrigo Duterte said face shields be used only in areas identified as under the 3Cs category.

But the same order gives establishments the option to still impose the use of face shields within their premises.

On Nov. 2, the city government also lifted the use of barriers in public utility vehicles, including pillion-riding.

Executive Order 63 lifts the use of plastic barriers in passenger vehicles, although those who will voluntarily continue to use these will still be allowed.

“The use of plastic barriers in public utility vehicles (PUVs) shall no longer be required. However, drivers and operators must still implement the mandatory implementation of wearing face masks and (of) physical distancing inside their units,” the order added.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases had ordered that face shields be used in public places, and barriers be used in public vehicles, to prevent the spread of the virus.

The order on the use of barriers in pillion-riding, however, was met with criticism as some riders were members of the same family.

In August, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said the use of barriers in motorcycles for authorized persons outside residences is not needed.

Under the latest classification, the city is placed under Alert Level 3 until the first half of the month following the continued decrease in the number of daily COVID-19 cases.

Based on the report of the regional office of the Department of Health on Wednesday, the city had 35 new cases out of the 67 new cases in the region, bringing to 730 its active cases.