NextGen Day

Despite the threat of the Omicron strain of Covid-19, Malacanang advised the public on Monday to put “safety first” during holiday celebrations by adhering to minimal public health requirements.

In a Palace news briefing, Cabinet Secretary and Acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles said, “In consideration of your actions, advice ko po ay (my advice is) safety first.”

Apart from wearing face masks, washing hands, and keeping a safe distance, Nograles advised the public to participate in the country’s three-day national immunization days, nicknamed “Bayanihan, Bakunahan,” from November 29 to December 1.

“Yung pagpapabakuna natin ngayon ayon ayon ayon ayon ayon ayon ayon ayon ayon ay (It is very important to get vaccinated). To adequately safeguard ourselves and our families, let us take advantage of this three-day national vaccination na magpabakuna na tayo (to get vaccinated). As we enter the month of December, pangalawa po, yung mask, hugas, iwas napaka importante (Second, wearing masks, washing hands is important),” he continued.

Should another increase of Covid-19 instances occur, Nograles said the national government is preparing for the worst-case situation.

“Hindi po makapasok yung Omicron sa bansa at anumang variation (We have activated our Four-Door Policy to prevent the Omicron version from entering the country),” he stated.

Border control, active surveillance, including test and trace, early isolation and treatment of all those who test positive, and the Covid-19 vaccine program are all part of the Four-Door Policy.

The World Health Organization has designated the Omicron variant, which was first discovered in Botswana, Southern Africa, as a “variant of concern” (WHO).

The WHO, on the other hand, stated that there is currently no evidence of the Omicron variant’s transmissibility or severity.

“It’s not apparent whether Omicron is more transmissible (easier to spread from person to person) than other variations, including Delta,” the organization stated in a statement on Sunday.

Shield for the face

Meanwhile, Nograles stated that the Palace supports the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19’s desire to reinstate the mandatory face shield regulation in order to combat the spread of new Covid-19 varieties.

“Right now, ganun pa rin po.” Ito ay mandatory sa mga healthcare settings at sa ibang settings naman po ay voluntary siya (it’s still the same.) Yung latest resolution ng IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] tungkol sa face shields, ito ay mandatory sa mga healthcare settings at sa ibang settings naman po ay The IATF’s most recent resolution on face shields states that they are mandatory in healthcare settings but optional in other contexts),” he explained.

He claims that face shields provide further protection against the extremely infectious virus, citing health professionals.

“If we ask the experts, it is, of course, an added layer of protection, so while it is voluntary, siyempre, ako (of course, I) personally, I would like to urge ating mga kababayan kung kaya naman po, magsuot ng facial shield, ay magsuot ng face shield para dagdag proteksyon na lamang po.” However, he continued, “ang pinaka minimal talaga yung masking” (Our citizens should wear face masks since they provide additional security).

In the wake of the Omicron form of Covid-19’s emergency, NTF top implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez said the government is considering reimplementing the mandatory face shield regulation.

“We’ll have a look at the possibilities.” He [Health Secretary Francisco Duque III] is pro-mababalik ang mga protection na pwede na gamitin na pwede na pwede na pwede na pwede na pwede na pwede (He [favors] the return of any protection that we can use). Because of the increased protection provided by face shields, some WHO officials believe we had a successful campaign against the Delta variant in comparison to other [countries],” Galvez said.

President Rodrigo Duterte approved the IATF’s suggestion on November 15 to lift the mandated use of face shields and make them solely optional in regions with Alert Levels 1 to 3.

Face shield policy is left to the discretion of local government units (LGUs) and private enterprises in regions under Alert Level 4.

In regions with an Alert Level 5 and areas where close contact (3Cs) is probable, such as hospitals and other medical institutions, the required face shield policy remains in effect.

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