INAPRUBAHAN ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang panukalang gawing boluntaryo ang pagsusuot ng face mask sa outdoor settings.

Sa press briefing ni Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, inanunsyo nito na naglabas na ang Malakanyang ng Executive Order No. 03 na nagsasaad na “allowing voluntary wearing of face masks in outdoor settings and reiterating the continued implementation of minimum public health standards during the state of public health emergency relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Subalit kung ang isang indibidwal ay immunocompromised, seniors o hindi kumpleto ang bakuna ay kailangan pa rin magsuot ng face mask o hinihikayat na magsuot ng face mask kahit nasa labas.

“Basahin ko na lang po precisely yung provision: The voluntary wearing of face masks in open spaces and non crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation is hereby allowed provided that not fully vaccinated individuals, senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals are highly encouraged to wear their masks and physical distancing will be observed at all times. So meron pa rin tayong physical distancing,” ayon kay Cruz-Angeles.

“Face masks shall continue to be worn in indoor, private or public establishments, including in public transportation by land, air or sea and in outdoor settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained,” dagdag na pahayag nito.

Sinabi pa ni Cruz-Angeles na tuloy pa rin ang iba pang minimum public health standards para epektibong maiwasan at mapigilan ang paglaganap ng COVID-19 sa bansa.

Matatandaang, masusing sinuri ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. ang rekomendasyon ng Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) sa boluntaryong paggamit ng face mask sa labas.

Nabuo ang rekomendasyon matapos makipagpulong si Marcos sa mga opisyal ng Department of Health (DOH) at Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). (CHRISTIAN DALE)