A social media rumor about the mandatory wearing of face masks in Metro Manila has been denied and tagged by the Department of Health (DOH) as false news.
The DOH issued an advisory on Wednesday, April 26, clarifying that Metro Manila is still under Alert Level 1, which means the existing restrictions remain in place.
"At present, Metro Manila is still under Alert Level 1, which means restrictions remain to be in status quo," it said.
Wearing face masks in indoor and outdoor settings is currently optional, with the exception of healthcare facilities, medical transport vehicles, and public transportation.
This rumor surfaced after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) announced the latest resolution on Alert Levels, wherein 26 areas were under Alert Level 2.
Meanwhile, Metro Manila remains under Alert Level 1.
While local government units (LGUs) may implement health measures in their respective areas, the DOH reminds the public to seek information from reputable sources.
"The Department of Health (DOH) continues to remind the public to be mindful of the information we share and source information from reputable sources," it added.
