Duterte: No more face shields except in closed, crowded areas

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22) — President Rodrigo Duterte has announced that the use of face shields outdoors is no longer required. However, these are still mandated in closed and crowded areas, and in places where they may be close contact among people.

In this Talk to the People address Wednesday night, Duterte said this was the advice of medical experts from the government's technical advisory group.

"I was informed by the medical experts on the use of face shields - pwede na tanggalin sa labas [we can remove it when outside]," the President said. "No more face shields outside."

"Ang limitasyon, ang face shields gamitin mo, 3Cs: closed whatever facility, hospital; crowded, it's a crowded room tapos mas delikado; at saka close contact kung magkadikit-dikit ang tao."

[Translation: The limitation is to wear face shields in the 3Cs: closed facilities such as hospitals; crowded areas such as a crowded room due to the risk (of COVID-19); and where there is close contact or when people are physically close to each other.]

Face shields have been a point of debate among the public and lawmakers, due to doubts about their effectiveness in protecting wearers from COVID-19. The Philippines is the only country that mandated the use of face shields as an extra protective tool amid the pandemic.