PANDEMIC fatigue has not settled on most Filipinos in what could be the world’s longest lockdown.
Most Filipinos still follow the recommended safety protocols, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.
The SWS survey conducted in September last year covered 1,249 adult Filipinos 18 years old and above.
The September 17 to 20 national mobile phone surveys were conducted when most areas of the country were already under the modified general community quarantine.
Eight in 10 of those surveyed said they always use a face mask when going out of the house; 14 percent most of the time; five percent sometimes; and one percent rarely or never.
The number of people “always” following health protocols, however, is declining in Metro Manila, the SWS survey showed.
The proportions of those who always use a face mask are highest among college graduates followed by junior high school graduates and non-elementary graduates.
Nearly seven in 10 or 67 percent of adult Filipinos covered by the survey said they always wash their hands several times a day.
Six in 10 always keep “physical distance” or a safe distance of one meter from other people when outside their homes.
And more than five in 10 or 56 percent always use a face shield whenever riding public transportation or going to establishments like malls, markets, or drugstores.
The proportion of those who always practice the coronavirus disease 2019 prevention measures rose slightly for using a face mask, from 76 percent in July to 79 percent in September.
The proportion of those who always use a face mask was highest in the Visayas at 86 percent, followed by Mindanao at 78 percent, Metro Manila at 77 percent, and the rest of Luzon at 76 percent.
We mention at length the face mask habits of Filipinos because of the dangers of “mask mouth.” More of this in the next column./PN
