Face shields not mandatory in Marikina

MANILA, Philippines — Amid the rising cases of COVID-19, the Marikina government clarified yesterday that wearing of face shields is not mandatory in the city.

In a statement, Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said the use of face shields remains optional.

No fines will be imposed on residents not wearing the protective gadget, he said.

Teodoro said people could use face shields in crowded and public areas as a precaution against COVID-19.

“We urge the public to wear face shields in congested areas so they can have added protection against COVID-19,” he said.

The local government requires people to wear face shields only in vaccination facilities amid the imposition of Alert Level 3 in Metro Manila and the surge of COVID-19 cases.

The national government made the use of face shields voluntary in areas under Alert Levels 1, 2 and 3. Business establishments or employers may still require the use of face shields in their premises.

Teodoro reminded his constituents to strictly follow minimum health standards amid the soaring cases of COVID-19 in Metro Manila brought by the Omicron variant.

As of Friday, Marikina had recorded 1,116 active cases of COVID-19.