The Philippine government on Thursday ordered those allowed out to wear face masks on the country’s main island while it is under a month-long lockdown to halt the spread of the coronavirus.
The island of Luzon, home to more than half of the Philippines’ population of an estimated 100 million, has been on lockdown since March 16. The government said authorities were still determining if the restrictions will be lifted or expanded.
“Let me repeat – if you need to go out of your house, you need to wear a mask,” government official Karlo Nograles said.
The covering can be improvised rather than a medical mask, but must cover the mouth and nose, Nograles added.
“Reusable or do-it-yourself masks, face shields, handkerchiefs or such other protective equipment” that lessened the transmission of Covid-19 were all acceptable, he said.
The order was a shift from the health department’s earlier advisory that only people who are sick and those working on the frontline to battle the virus needed to wear masks, with the aim of ensuring that there would be an adequate supply for those who require it most.
Nograles added that local governments units may “impose such penalties as may be appropriate” for those who violate the rule.
On Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte said he would order the police and the military to shoot dead anyone who “creates trouble” during the lockdown, as complaints about the slow delivery of food packs and cash assistance triggered public outrage and protests.
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the Philippines stood at 2,311 on Wednesday, including 96 deaths. There have been 50 patients who have recovered from the disease, the health department said.
