Roque Confirms Face Shields Are No Longer Required Outdoors Except In Crowded Public Areas

Harry Roque confirms face shields are now only required in crowded areas

After a series of confusion whether or not face shields are still required to be worn outside of our homes along with face masks, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque has confirmed in a morning press briefing on 21st June, today, that face shields will no longer be required when going out, except in crowded indoor and outdoor public areas.

This means that we can now do away with our face shields when going out for exercise, but we will still have to wear them in crowded indoor spaces such as wet markets and malls, and outdoor spaces such as public transportation terminals.

Face shields are no longer required when going outdoors

He said, “Hindi na po kinakailangan ang face shield sa labas kasi hindi naman inapela ‘yan ng IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases),” which can be translated as “Face shields are no longer required outdoors because that wasn’t appealed by the IATF.”

Face shields are still required in crowded indoor and public areas

Image credit: Manila Public Information Office 

However, face shields are still needed to be worn in all enclosed, indoor spaces of hospitals, schools, workplaces, commercial establishments, public transport terminals, and places of worship, as Roque elaborated in the briefing: “Lahat ng (all) enclosed, indoor spaces of hospitals, schools, workplaces, commercial establishments such as but not limited to food establishment, malls and public markets, public transport terminals, and places of worship”.

Image credit: Marco Centeno

Roque confirms face shields are no longer required outdoors

As of this writing, what is clear is that face shields are not necessary anymore when we’re going outdoors, except in crowded areas, according to Roque.

Though we have yet to hear President Rodrigo Duterte’s words on the new policy, we can expect more details about it later tonight when he discusses the wearing of face shields with the IATF.

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Cover image adapted from: Harry Roque, Manila Public Information Office