By Kaela Patricia Gabriel

PHOTO: Fane Valley Stores

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said talks with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) regarding the recommendation of goggle use for COVID-19 protection in enclosed spaces is underway.

When asked in a DOH press briefing about the possibility of requiring the use of double face masks and goggles, health undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire stated they already had a conversation with health experts regarding the matter.

“Primarily, kaya natin minandate na ang face shields for us to protect our eyes because there are evidence to state na ang COVID-19 can also penetrate ang eyes natin at puwede tayong maimpeksyon. Pero sinabi naman po simula’t sapul pa na kung wala tayong face shield, yung goggles naman po is okay din,” Vergeire said.

Furthermore, Vergeire added that face shields were first chosen as an additional layer for protection since they cover the whole face; therefore, providing protection against droplets and aerosols.

“So pinag-uusapan po lahat ‘to… the possibility of these goggles and the others, nandiyan po ‘yan,” she said. 

Vergeire also reminded the public once again to follow minimum public health standards  to lessen the transmission of COVID-19 amid the implementation of alert level two in Metro Manila, wherein people flocked to public spaces, making the Philippine National Police (PNP) record 9,451 violations of health protocols in the area last Friday.

As of November 7, DOH recorded a total of 2,803,213 COVID-19 cases with 33,526 active cases and a death toll of 44,430.


Report sources: Rappler, CNN Philippines