Palace: Establishments can deny entry of people without face mask

MANILA, Philippines — Private and public establishments can deny the entry of individuals who refuse to wear face masks, Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said Friday.

Nograles said that under the nationwide implementation of the alert level system, public and private establishments are directed to ensure the implementation of minimum public health standards against COVID-19, and to “exclude all persons who cannot comply with the same from their respective premises.”

“Sa madaling salita, kung hindi po sumusunod ang isang indibidwal sa patakaran ukol sa paggamit ng face mask, pwede pong hindi papasukin sa establisyemento,” he said in a Palace briefing.

(In other words, if a person does not follow the rule on wearing a face mask, he or she may not be allowed entry in an establishment.)

Nograles said that local government units are likewise directed to ensure proper enforcement of this directive.

According to Nograles, management of establishments “have a right, in fact, an obligation and responsibility” to not allow the entry of people who refuse to wear a face mask.

Authorities are reminding the public to continue to follow health protocols against COVID-19 to sustain the current decrease in the number of new coronavirus cases and to prevent another surge of infections.

The Philippines has 17,796 active cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday.

The Department of Health earlier warned that active cases of the disease may reach up to 27,000 by the end of December if there would be an increase in mobility and complacency in following health protocols.

However, if the current compliance to health standards is maintained, the country may have just around 9,000 to 10,000 active cases by the end of the year.

JPV