Face shields could be making a comeback once the Omicron variant enters the country and alert levels go back up, according to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday
Año said in a meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force that face shields were never really discarded by the government, but were just integrated into the new Alert Level System.
"Of course, kapag pumasok po yung Omicron at tumaas 'yung alert level, iimpose po ulit natin," he told other officials.
(Of course, once Omicron enters the country and the alert level goes up, we will impose it again.)
This comes as Health Secretary Francisco Duque III encouraged the use of face shields in close spaces, crowded areas, and close contact places like public transportation.
"I think now with the threat of the Omicron variant, it will be an added layer of protection that would be good for the public," Duque said.
The health secretary also reiterated the call in an interview with DZRH on Tuesday morning, where he encouraged the public to use facemasks and face shields to protect themselves from the threat of COVID-19.
"Kay Alpha, Beta, Delta, Omicron, lahat po, ang importante rito ay lagi tayong nakamask at hangga't maaari kung makagamit po kayo ng face shield," he said.
(Whether Alpha, Beta, Omicron, what is important is we are wearing facemasks and if possible if you could use a face shield.)
"Mas maganda po mag-face shield na rin kayo para makasiguro lang din po tayo," he later added.
(It is much better if you wear a face shield just to make sure.)
Face shields are only voluntary in areas under Alert Levels 1, 2, and 3. For areas under Alert Level 4, it is under the discretion of the local government unit, while places under Alert Level 5 will have face shields mandatory.
