ILOILO – Since they are “ineffective” in preventing the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) secretary Ramon Lopez said he would recommend the removal of acrylic or plastic barriers.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. here, however, said he would rather wait for the decision of the Department of Health (DOH) and/or the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
To lessen the risk of spreading COVID-19 during the peak of infections in 2020, restaurants, stores, banks, public transportation and other establishments where individuals interact face-to-face were obliged to put up plastic barriers.
“I think plastic barriers in the restaurants they are not ano… I’m not very sure of that…pero kon maghalin sa DOH (ang order) mas maayo gid,” said Defensor.
The governor actually believes that “anything that separates people can prevent the transmission (of COVID-19).
However, he said, “Kon may rason sila kag i-butang sa issuance, we will remove it.”
The governor acknowledged that despite his executive order requiring plastic barriers in all establishments, there are those that do not comply.
Health experts have said that COVID-19 is airborne, according to Lopez.
“Even if the distance is far, acrylic barriers have no effect since the virus can be transmitted through the air,” he said./PN
