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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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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