Cebu scraps face shield ordinance

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government lifted on Wednesday its policy on the mandatory wearing of face shields except in public transportation, hospitals and other medical facilities.

“It was confirmed that face shields were usually not properly worn but just fashionably displayed as head gear for compliance purposes,” an order issued by acting Mayor Michael Rama declared.

“The Cebu City multisectoral convergence group conducted a meeting where observations and discussions were made on the manner people utilized face shields in various settings,” it stated.

Rama said the use of face shields in malls and in jeepneys with open windows is no longer mandatory.

“If it’s creating a crowd and it’s really too much of a crowd that is somehow close contact, I would encourage face shields,” he said, citing weddings and other intimate events.

The management of indoor venues and establishments should require vaccination cards from their patrons, Rama’s order added.

Councilor Joel Garganera, Emergency Operations Center chief implementer, said only fully vaccinated adults are allowed to bring minors to malls.

“We have to incentivize vaccinated individuals and encourage those who have not been vaccinated to have themselves inoculated,” Garganera said.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases is considering the proposal of the Department of the Interior and Local Government to lift the face shield requirement in public places, except for high-risk areas such as hospitals.

The city governments of Iloilo, Manila and Davao had earlier scrapped their face shield policy, citing studies that it was not effective in blocking cough aerosols as compared to face masks.