The Davao City Covid-19 Task Force contradicted the removal of face masks amid reports that the use of face masks may be gone by the end of this year and Covid-19 becomes endemic.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. was reported saying that mandatory use of face masks in open spaces will probably be removed by the last quarter of 2022.
According to TF spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser loosening of the minimum public health protocols including the removal of face masks in Davao City is not yet applicable.
“I have to emphasize that this is not yet a fact nabasa ug nakit-an lang nako na basi daw walaon ang face mask. As of today dili nagatuo ang Covid-19 Task Force na removing the minimum public health standards is necessary yet. Para sa atoa dinhi sa Davao City I don’t think it’s applicable yet,” she said.
She added that the task force believes that face masks will be part of the “new normal”.
“That should be part of the new normal as a medical practitioner my opinion would be is it still necessary because the minimum public health standards are by far the most evident na protection nato against the spread of infection,” Schlosser said.
Meanwhile, Schlosser said the loosening of restrictions such as mass gathering and lifting of the Executive Orders (EOs) are among the city government of Davao’s preparations towards the “new normal.”
This is in line with Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles report that the government is preparing to shift the status of the National Capital Region (NCR) from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1 or the “new normal.”
However, Schlosser clarified that the task force is not discussing this yet.
“We have to look into the NCR rollout because once it is cascaded to other LGUs and to ours dili na siya ingon ana ka daghan ug glitches. As to naman if i-apply siya diri hindi pa siya napag-usapan sa Covid-19 Task Force, although, you can see in our preparations naga hinay hinay nata. We are already at Alert Level 2 and under Alert Level 2 allowed na tanan movements in all ages, mas lenient nata sa atong protocols and restrictions especially sa number of people in an establishment,” she said.
She reiterated that even with the “new normal” Dabawenyos should not neglect the minimum public health protocols which have been proven as the most effective to prevent the massive spread of infections of Covid-19.
