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Gov't lifts face shield rule for areas under Alert Level 3, below

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Commuters try to catch a ride at a bus stop along EDSA in Quezon City on Aug. 4, 2021. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/08/29/20210804-covid-commuters-edsa-md-0545.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Commuters try to catch a ride at a bus stop along EDSA in Quezon City on Aug. 4, 2021. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED)</strong>— Government said on Monday it would ditch requiring face shields in almost all public areas in areas under COVID-19 Alert Level 3 and below.</p><p>Effective &quot;immediately&quot;, the face plastic covers would be required only in areas under Alert Level 5, the strictest quarantine classification in the country, while local government units of areas under Level 4 can decide if use of face shields in public venues will be mandatory or not.</p><p>Wearing face shields is still required in public areas such as hospitals and quarantine facilities, a memorandum from Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said.</p><p>Medialdea on Monday evening confirmed the copy of the memorandum signed by President Rodrigo Duterte that approved the recommendation of the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to limit the use of face shields starting Nov. 15.</p><p>Duterte, in a taped public briefing aired later that night, said he&#x27;s okay with ending mandatory use of face shields in public areas, but the wearing of face masks &quot;stays&quot;.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yung mask will forever remain, and it will be part of our day-to-day ... safety measure kasi matagal pa &#x27;tong virus na nasa hangin lang,&quot; he said.</p><p>Some local governments like those of Manila, Davao City, and Iloilo City earlier lifted the face shield rule, even without the task force&#x27;s decision, prompting questions on whether the move was valid. </p><p>Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año has been quoted as saying that mayors need not wait for the IATF decision before junking the face shield rule.</p><p>But Roque said on Tuesday, &quot;Hindi po pupuwede kasing nagkakaniya-kaniya sa panahon ng pandemya.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Siguro po kung hindi batas ang pinag-uusapan, respeto na lang po sa ating Presidente dahil lahat naman po ng desisyon ng IATF ay desisyon ng Presidente,&quot; he said in a press briefing. </p><p>(We cannot go our own ways during a pandemic. Perhaps if we are not talking about the law, just show respect to our President because all decisions of the IATF are the decisions of the IATF.) </p><p>&quot;Paano ngayon susunod ang mga mamamayan kung mga mayor mismo ay hindi sumusunod?&quot; added the official.</p><p>(How can citizens obey if mayors do not?)</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/09/21/respeto-palace-asks-mayors-to-wait-for-duterte-decision-on-face-shields">Mayors told to wait for IATF, Duterte decision before making rules on face shields</a></li></ul><p>Government previously required face shields in all public areas, becoming the only country in the world with such mandate for all during the pandemic. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/31/21/who-says-reviewing-ph-experience-in-face-shield-use">WHO says reviewing PH experience in face shield use </a></li></ul><p>Duterte in September said the covering was <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/22/21/duterte-says-no-need-to-use-face-shields-in-open-areas" target="_blank">no longer mandatory in open spaces</a> and would only be required in areas that are crowded, closed and cause close contact.</p><div><br/><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1825944" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

Government said on Monday it would ditch requiring face shields in almost all public areas in areas under COVID-19 Alert Level 3 and below.