Face Shield Policy Might Return After the detection of Omicron variant in other Countries

The re-implementation of a policy which requires the mandatory use of face shields in public places is now being considered by the country’s task force on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) amid the emergence of the “Omicron” (B1.1.529) variant.

All of us were in relief after the Office of the President lifted the mandatory use of face shields in Alert Level 1-3 areas last November 15. But we hope you haven't disposed your face shields yet because the National Government is already eyeing that Face shields will help fight the spread of the new variant of the coronavirus. So far, Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the Philippines has yet to record a case of Omicron.

“Some people from the World Health Organization (WHO) also believes that we had a good campaign against the Delta variant as compared to other [countries] because of the added protection due to face shields, said Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr.

As a safety measure, 14 countries are now under the Philippines red list until Dec. 15 due to COVID-19 Omicron variant. In a statement, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the following countries are now under the red list:

• South Africa
• Botswana
• Namibia
• Zimbabwe
• Lesotho
• Eswatini
• Mozambique
• Austria
• Czech Republic
• Hungary
• The Netherlands
• Switzerland
• Belgium
• Italy

Meanwhile, Hong Kong, despite logging three cases of the said variant, was placed under the yellow list, and travelers from the said territory will have to comply with testing and quarantine protocols for yellow list countries.

Meanwhile, passengers already in transit and all those who have been to red list countries within 14 days prior to their arrival to the Philippines and will arrive before 12:01 a.m. of November 30, 2021, shall not be subject to this restriction from entry. They, however, will be required to undergo facility-based quarantine for 14 days with testing on the seventh day regardless of their RT-PCR result.

Hopefully, the new COVID variant Omicron won't spread throughout the country this Christmas season, or else, we will be celebrating Christmas with tight restrictions again.