Face shields now required in malls, other enclosed establishments

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 21) — The government has made the wearing of face shields mandatory not just in public transport and in the workplace, but also in enclosed establishments like malls.

“Dapat sinusuot na rin ang face shields sa mga nakasaradong commercial establishments, gaya po ng mga malls,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, who also speaks for the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, announced in a media briefing on Friday.

[Translation: Face shields should also be worn in enclosed commercial establishments such as malls.]

Members of the task force, which serves as the policy-making body in the government's COVID-19 response, last month said that face shields are highly encouraged – and may soon be required – to be worn in all public places as additional protection since the coronavirus is spread through respiratory droplets.

COVID-19 has infected more than 178,000 people nationwide while the country remains under varying levels of community quarantine.