Coming soon - No more face shields?

[Mike J]

When I go to the mall everyone, including guards and staff, have them perched on top of their heads.  Is it possible common sense will prevail?

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1158509

MANILA – The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) is studying the possibility of lifting the current policy on the use of face shields in the country, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

In an online press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the significant drop in the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases might persuade the IATF-EID to withdraw the requirement of wearing a face shield on top of a face mask.

“I can confirm po na habang bumababa ang mga numero, eh pinag-uusapan na rin po kung ipagpapatuloy pa ang pagsusuot ng face shields (I can confirm that while the number [of Covid-19] infections continue to decline, we are discussing whether it is still necessary to wear face shields),” Roque, also acting as IATF-EID spokesperson, said.

On Monday, the Philippines logged just 3,117 new Covid-19 infections, bringing the total case count in the country to 2,790,375.

There are 43,185 active Covid-19 cases, 2,703,914 recoveries, and 43,276 fatalities.

Roque, however, clarified that despite the decline in Covid-19 cases, the IATF-EID has yet to decide on the use of face shields.

“So, tama po kayo. Dahil bumababa ang numero, marami na ang nagsasabi sa IATF na na baka dapat itigil na rin ang pagsusuot ng face shields. Pero wala pa pong desisyon. So, suot pa rin po tayo ng face shield (So, you’re right. While the number is going down, many IATF members are saying that perhaps, we could stop the wearing of face shields),” he said.

Roque also reminded the public to continue wearing face shields in enclosed and crowded spaces.

On Dec. 14, 2020, the IATF-EID issued Resolution 88, mandating all persons to wear full-coverage face shields on top of face masks in all public places to reduce Covid-19 transmission.

Duterte in June this year ordered the public to wear face shields only in hospitals but immediately decided to keep the IATF-EID’s original policy following the presence of the more infectious Delta variant.

He, however, decided in September this year to just limit the use of face shields in the so-called “3Cs,” which refers to “closed and crowded spaces, and close contact.” (PNA)

 

Edited November 2, 2021 by Mike J

[Old55]

1 hour ago, Mike J said:

When I go to the mall everyone, including guards and staff, have them perched on top of their heads.  Is it possible common sense will prevail?

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1158509

 

 

Well Mike.....

 

[OnMyWay]

10 minutes ago, Old55 said:

Well Mike.....

 

Exactly.  The whole face shield story is an embarrassment to the Philippines and the only reason they keep requiring them is to "save face", and to allow a select few to make huge sums of money on them.

 

Find the ‘genius’ behind gov’t insistence on face shields – Sotto

By: Jerome Aning, Nestor Corrales - @inquirerdotnet

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:38 AM June 24, 2021

INQUIRER PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Who’s the “genius” that convinced President Rodrigo Duterte to backtrack on his earlier ruling that face shields should be worn only in hospitals? Senate President Vicente Sotto III wants to know.

Sotto pointed out on Wednesday that the Philippines is the only country in the world whose citizens use both face masks and shields to protect themselves from the virus that causes COVID-19, and sent reporters a copy of the Department of Health (DOH) brief to that effect.

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Mr. Duterte said on Monday that face shields remained a must, when days earlier he told senators at a meeting that shields were good only in hospitals. He reversed himself on the “advice of health experts,” his spokesperson Harry Roque said.

So Sotto asked: “Who was the genius that persuaded the government?”

 

He added: “It’s confirmed. Even the brief sent by DOH proves no [other] country in the world mandates the use of face shields on top of face masks. It’s either/or in most countries. Other countries, mask only!”

But microbiologist Dr. Karl Henson backed Malacañang’s retention of the use of face shields, along with other protocols, to limit the entry and spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant.

 

 

 

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Speaking at the Laging Handa briefing on Wednesday, Henson named the other protocols as mass vaccination and strict border control, among others.

For profit?

Asked if there could be certain business people pushing face shields for profit, Sotto said it was possible.

“People cannot help but suspect something is wrong somewhere,” he said.

Per the DOH brief:

• China shifted from face masks to face shields to not using both (as of June 16, 2020).

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• South Korea shifted from masks to shields to not using both (as of June 16, 2020).

• Malta uses either masks or visors or shields.

• The state of Oregon in the United States uses masks or face coverings or shields.

• The United Kingdom requires the use of shields only for staff who work in close contact with the public, such as hairdressers, barbers, beauticians, studio artists and studio photographers.

Lack of vaccines

Sen. Joel Villanueva said vaccination remained the solution to the pandemic.

“The lack of vaccines is what prolongs this debate on face shields. We’ve been told to endure the inconvenience of face shields until we reach herd immunity,” Villanueva said in a statement.

He suggested that the government limit the use of face shields to those in constant exposure to the coronavirus.

Echoing Sotto, Villanueva said: “Other countries recommend face mask or face shield, not both. We should do the same. Why inconvenience the public when there is really no added value in terms of protection?”

Sen. Risa Hontiveros said the use of face shields should be “optional.”

Sotto III also wants the Senate committee of the whole to investigate the efficacy of face shields in preventing COVID-19 transmission. 

In Senate Resolution No. 757, Sotto cited the position of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that face shields “are not as effective at protecting you or the people around you from respiratory droplets,” and should be used only as an alternative for people unable to wear a mask.

Available data

“[F]or the marginalized and the poor, a face shield is very costly [and does not offer] protection against the virus. Our people should invest in a proper mask that is scientifically proven to protect them from the virus,” he said.

Commenting on the controversy, Henson, an officer of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, cited data showing that the use of face shields increased protection against COVID-19.

“We have available data on that; the sample population is not that big, but we have [data],” he said.

Henson said he used to be skeptical of the effectiveness of face shields but changed his mind when the COVID-19 variants emerged.

“In the face of the Delta variant … on our doorstep [that] is much more transmissible, I think we need to employ all the protection we can get to avoid community transmission… We don’t want [to happen to us] what India experienced earlier this year,” he said.

Henson said the Delta variant, owing to additional mutations on its genetic material, had been found to adhere to cells in human airways, making it more transmissible.

“But the important thing is, those infected by the Delta variant have somewhat different symptoms—reportedly no coughing symptoms, no loss of taste. … So it’s more likely for the patient to ignore symptoms, especially if they are very mild,” he said.

Citing findings in the United Kingdom, Henson said it had not been established if the Delta variant was deadlier than others. However, he said, those afflicted were more likely to need hospitalization.

As to the finding that more younger people are getting infected by the variant, this may be because most of them go out of the house or are not vaccinated, compared to the elderly who stay indoors or have been inoculated, he said. 

Henson said his personal view was that the more people got vaccinated, the better would be the protection against the variant.

Apart from vaccination, the government and the community should enforce and comply with health protocols and standards such as proper ventilation, wearing of face masks and shields, hand hygiene and physical distancing, he said.

Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1450245/sotto-find-the-genius-behind-govt-insistence-on-face-shields#ixzz7B6nwyKnZ
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

[Freebie]

Sadly this country in which we reside has an inate ability to shoot itself in the foot more often than other countries, with such shield idiocy. If they worked and served any useful purpose why werent all the other smart advanced countries using them.  Well I guess we know the answer to that !

SM security staff  in Makati have in past week become aggressive about getting people to wear shields. One guard yesterday stuck his " shield must be worn" in my face... I then pointed to the food stall area not 5 metres away where people had no shield and no mask... and asked wheres the logic in me wearing a shield and those fine folk wearing no mouth covering. Dumb " why is he asking me this " look ensued.

Its becoming the same with booster shots. The rest of the world is charging ahead giving boosters to all who need or even want , and yet here the DOH says its " studying the issues ". 

Its like everyone is so nervous of making a smart science based decision that no decisions are made.  The  serious lack of leadership is incredible.

 

[scott h]

12 hours ago, Mike J said:

Is it possible common sense will prevail?

Not until the last possible moment...

That logic defying PINOY PRIDE is taking effect now....If they abandon the face shields they will be admitting they were wrong in the first place.....

 

 

Edited November 3, 2021 by scott h
fix

[graham59]

Yes, and before they got around to printing a clown face on them too. 

[Jollygoodfellow]

No face shields was already brought into Davao a day or two back so up to local goverment.

[Jollygoodfellow]

Just a reminder when copy and pasting, paste as plain text so all the crap does not come with it and links and oversized text as in a post up above.

[RBM]

Here in Bacolod common sense prevails!!!!..... Providing one carries ones shield its OK to enter a mall, bit like the crash helmets worn on the elbow......Sir I do have my helmet ....oh OK off you go.

[Jollygoodfellow]

Cebu mayor has decided to leave it up to business owners if they require shields or not. How dumb. So that means you need to have it with you incase you need it or just choose another business to enter. From what I have seen I doubt many will require face shields.