FMJ OKs optional use of masks indoor
By Nidz Godino
"As a result of Cabinet meeting this morning, it was agreed that the President would be issuing an executive order per Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) recommendation to make indoor mask-wearing also voluntary all over Philippines with few exceptions," Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said in press briefing President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has supported recommendation to make indoor mask-wearing voluntary with goal of further boosting economy. Frasco said easing of country's health protocols was discussed during President's meeting with his Cabinet in Malacañang.
She stressed wearing of masks will still be required in public transportation and medical facilities.
Frasco said persons unvaccinated against Covid-19, those with comorbidities and senior citizens are still "highly encouraged" to wear masks.
"But generally, direction of the Marcos administration is to lift remainder of travel restrictions, and that includes easing of mask mandates to allow our country to be at par with our Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) neighbors who have long liberalized their mask mandates," the Tourism secretary noted.
The decision came over a month after President Marcos signed an order making wearing of masks outdoors optional.
Data from IATF showed that "since September, there has been decrease in Covid-19 cases by 2.8 percent," Frasco said.
"lifting of mask mandate in outdoor spaces in no way led to any surges in any parts of the country," she added.
The Tourism chief said government is also looking at removing remainder of Covid-19 stringent protocols such as requirement of pre-departure testing in the form of RT-PCR.
She added unvaccinated foreigners will be allowed entry into the country by presenting an antigen test taken 24 hours before their departure or taking an antigen test upon arrival in the Philippines.
"The overarching direction of Marcos administration is to allow our country to convey an openness and readiness to the world to receive tourists and investments so that we would give our fellow Filipinos opportunity to regain all livelihood and losses that were incurred during pandemic, we are optimistic that all of these restrictions being lifted by the Marcos administration can only redound to the benefit of lives of millions of Filipinos who stand to benefit as well from invigoration of tourism industry" Frasco said.
Meanwhile, Frasco said government will mandate use of electronic arrival (eArrival) card, a scan-and-go system, in airports beginning next month November,2022.
Starting November 1, the Bureau of Quarantine will require all inbound travelers to obtain an eArrival card within 72 hours prior to their departure from their country of origin.
Arriving travelers may secure an eArrival card by visiting website onehealthpass.com.ph or by scanning QR code indicated in the poster released by Department of Health (DoH).
Frasco said eArrival interface is more user-friendly and has reduced number of questions needed to be answered by travelers.
During the meeting, she added, it was clarified that " filling out of the eArrival card would not be made mandatory as prerequisite to boarding, in other words, you can fill out eArrival card at your own convenience prior to departure or upon arrival."
It was also agreed that special lanes will be provided at the airport for those who have not had the time to fill out the eArrival card.
"In the end, we simply cannot go on in pandemic perspective, because we have to give our country an opportunity to thrive while maintaining basic health protocols, on one hand, and safeguarding and protecting livelihood and economy, on the other…and this is the reason why the new Covid-19 variant is being managed by DoH, while government is considering ways in which our economy can recover," Frasco said.
"Because of our President's position of prioritizing travel and tourism as priority agenda of his administration and sense of optimism and hope that has reverberated across Philippines, there is great interest in the Philippines…this is actually well-reflected in our tourist arrivals," she added.
President Marcos, in his weekly vlog released on Saturday, October 22, encouraged Filipinos to explore beauty of the Philippines to spur economic growth.
He cited need to promote local tourism to generate more economic activities in the country.
Domestic travel increased in 2021 with local trips reaching 37.27 million, higher by 38.16 percent from the 26.98 million recorded in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic struck, according to Department of Tourism data.
The country has also welcomed some 1.6 million international guests since opening up for leisure travel in February.
The DoH will await official guidance that will be issued by Office of the President regarding lifting of masking mandate in indoor spaces.
"It is up for Office of the President to issue policy statement," Officer in Charge Undersecretary Beverly Lorraine Ho said in an interview with reporters in an event in Taguig City.
OCTA founder Prof. Ranjit Rye, meanwhile, expressed hope that decision to make mask use optional was based on science.
"We must bear in mind that Covid is still with us and that we must continue to be vigilant amid spread of new variants…sensible pandemic management is needed at this time, and we hope that whatever changes in policy will not contribute to rise in infections," Rye said.
The DoH said while it has illustrated all potential scenarios to IATF during discussions regarding mask mandates, it will defer to the task force, a collegial body that takes into consideration concerns of all sectors. It reminded public that more layers of protection will enable more people to be protected against Covid-19, such as vaccination, masking, physical distancing, proper ventilation, sanitation, and taking care of one's health.
The DoH said decision to ease masking mandate will empower everybody to decide based on personal context and risk appraisal, especially with celebration of All Saints' Day November 1 and All Souls' Day November 2 fast approaching.
"We need to start evaluating our risk…when you are going to an area where there are lots of people, like cemetery, and you are immunocompromised or elderly, you have an option to go next week instead," Ho said.
OCTA Research senior fellow Dr. Guido David believes that wave of highly infectious Covid-19 XBB variant is starting to decrease, noting that XBB cases have also gone down in Singapore.
"Hopefully, trend continues until December…we can't be sure, but this is what we are expecting," David said during a briefing.
He added that National Capital Region began to experience fewer cases in the past few days.
But there were increases in cases reported in other provinces as indicated by high positivity rates, such as Tarlac in Central Luzon, some provinces in Northern Luzon and Western Visayas, and parts of Mindanao such as Misamis Oriental.
"The implication is that subvariants such as XBB and XBC came late in these areas but in Metro Manila, we have experienced this and that the cases are now decreasing," David concluded.
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