The Department of Health on Monday reminded the public that face masks and shields are not enough to protect them if they continue to expose themselves in dense crowds. This warning comes as the holiday shopping commences and fills up shop districts like Divisoria with heavy crowds despite the pandemic.
Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said the risk of COVID-19 transmission in crowded spaces is very high even if shoppers wear face masks and face shields.
“Kahit kayo ay naka-mask at face shield, pero kung kayo naman po ay pupunta sa matataong lugar na halos dikit-dikit na kayo, maaari pa rin kayong mahawa. The risk is there and it’s very high,” she said.
[Even if you’re wearing a face mask and face shield, but you’re going to a crowded area, you can still get infected.]
The Philippines has a total of 420,614 COVID-19, with 386,604 recoveries and 8,173 deaths. The DOH said the new daily cases have “plateaued” to less than 2,000, but it is monitoring Cebu City to prevent a spike in cases, and Davao City for its high critical care utilization rate.
