THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged on Monday, April 6, the local government units (LGUs) to pass an ordinance requiring their constituents to wear face masks when they go out of their hoes as another precautionary measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said that aside from social distancing, use of quarantine passes, and encouraging people to stay at home, mandatory wearing of face masks whenever people are outside is an additional measure that can be practiced in the community to ensure that they are not passing the virus around.
“We must be vigilant. Hindi biro ang coronavirus na ito kaya hinihikayat ko ang mga LGU na tiyakin na ang kanilang mga kababayan ay laging nakasuot ng face mask kapag sila ay lalabas sa pamamagitan ng pagsasabatas ng ordinansa ukol dito. This is our small way of ensuring that the virus will not spread," he said.
"Kung maipapasa ng mga LGU ang ordinansa ng mandatory wearing of face mask, dagdag na naman ito sa mga umiiral na hakbang ng pamahalaan sa pagpigil sa pagkalat ng coronavirus sa ating mga pamayanan and right now, we cannot be limiting ourselves to minimal preventive measures," he added.
The government, through the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) earlier encouraged the people to wear masks while outside residence to stop or prevent the spread of the virus.
A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the Unites States of America showed that droplets from coughs and sneezes could be projected further than originally thought, hence, requiring people to wear face masks for some protection.
Earlier, PNP deputy chief for operations and commander of the Joint Task Force Covid Shield (JTF CV Shield) Guillermo Eleazar said policemen will caution non-mask wearing residents and they may also be sent home.
The Department of Health said there were 3,246 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country with 152 deaths as of April 5.
As of April 5, novel coronavirus (or Sars-CoV-2) infections in the Philippines have increased to 3,246 with 152 mortalities and 64 survivors.
Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases has surged to 1.093 million persons as of April 5, with 58,620 mortalities, in 209 countries.
As a measure to stop the spread of the virus, President Rodrigo Duterte has placed the entire Luzon under enhanced community quarantine, during which public transport systems are suspended, food and health services are regulated, and most of the population are required to stay home. (SunStar Philippines)