MANILA – Despite the presence of the new, more contagious strain of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Health clarified the public is not required to wear a double layer of facemask.
According to DOH undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, wearing two facemasks at the same time is not yet proven effective to combat the B117 variant of COVID-19 first detected in the United Kingdom.
“Makikita ho natin, ito pong paggamit natin ng facemask which provides us about 60 to 70 percent protection, plus the face shield and physical distance will provide us about 99 percent protection,” Vergeire said.
She added the protocol of wearing facemasks with face shield as well as compliance in health and safety standards can better address the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Kailangan lang ng enough evidence that double masking is effective against the new COVID-19 variant so that we can also recommend this,” the undersecretary stated. /PN
