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People are now required to wear face masks and face shields whenever they go out of their residences as the government aims to slow the spread of COVID-19 this holiday season.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made the announcement on Tuesday a day after the meeting of the policy-making Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

Previously, the government only required the wearing of face shields inside establishments.

"It's an additional protection para maiwasan ang surge [in COVID-19 cases this holiday season]. Lahat naman po 'to hindi ire-require kung hindi po makakabuti sa ating kalusugan," Roque said at a news conference.

"Whether it be for the holiday or for [a] longer period of time, meron na tayong face shield, gamitin na lang for added protection."

The Philippines has so far reported 450,733 COVID-19 cases with 8,757 deaths, but the OCTA Research group said the number of infections could hit close to half a million by the end of the year.

The OCTA Research urged the national and local governments to work together to limit the spread of the virus by increasing testing, contact tracing, isolation and quarantine, and the implementation of small, targeted lockdowns to contain "super-spreading events" in the communities.

They also appealed to the public to avoid not just crowded and enclosed areas but also to refrain from joining or organizing social gatherings this Christmas season. --KBK, GMA News

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Gov't orders mandatory use of face shields, face masks in public areas

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People are now required to wear face masks and face shields whenever they go out of their residences as the government aims to slow the spread of COVID-19 this holiday season.

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Fever or chills.

Cough.

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

Fatigue.

Muscle or body aches.

Headache.

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Cholera Epidemic Outbreak in the Philippines (November 1902 - February 1904)

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Cholera Epidemic Outbreak in the Philippines (November 1902 - February 1904)

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Vessel arrived from Hong Kong to Manila carrying cholera (March 14, 1902)

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Vessel arrived from Hong Kong to Manila carrying cholera (March 14, 1902)

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Quarantine Service (Supervised by American doctors and public health officers)

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Quarantine Service (Supervised by American doctors and public health officers)

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Burning of nipa houses infected by cholera; disinfection of houses constructed of wood 

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Burning of nipa houses infected by cholera; disinfection of houses constructed of wood 

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Temporary Ban on the Entry of Chinese Nationals from Wuhan

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Temporary Ban on the Entry of Chinese Nationals from Wuhan

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First Recorded Covid-19 Fatality, a 44 Years Old Chinese Man (February 2, 2020)

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First Recorded Covid-19 Fatality, a 44 Years Old Chinese Man (February 2, 2020)

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Repatriation of Stranded OFWs in Wuhan City by the Department of Foreign Affairs

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Repatriation of Stranded OFWs in Wuhan City by the Department of Foreign Affairs

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Signing of Proclamation No. 922 by Rodrigo Duterte, declaring a state of Public Health Emergency (March 8, 2020)

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Signing of Proclamation No. 922 by Rodrigo Duterte, declaring a state of Public Health Emergency (March 8, 2020)

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Implementation of Quarantine and Wearing of Face Masks & Shields

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Implementation of Quarantine and Wearing of Face Masks & Shields

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Extension of the State of Calamity, Proclamation No. 1021

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Extension of the State of Calamity, Proclamation No. 1021

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Restricted Mobility on Businesses & Quarantine Measures

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Restricted Mobility on Businesses & Quarantine Measures

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Judgment on Poor Sanitation and Filipino Superstitions

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Judgment on Poor Sanitation and Filipino Superstitions

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General Malvar surrendered the war on April 16

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General Malvar surrendered the war on April 16

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I was still not born when Cholera Epidemic happened in the Philippines, yet upon having the chance to know what happened in our country during those times and living the times of Covid-19, I have come into three realizations.

One, I realized that the government or the majority of people in power will actually try to pacify the citizens but will mask it as an urgent need for the safety of everyone else's.

Second, I realized that Filipinos still have superstitions and indescribable beliefs when epidemic and pandemics happen, such as Filipinos believing that the earlier vaccines will turn us into "zombies," treating it as something to laugh about.

Third, Cholera and Covid-19 are similar in some public health measures such as quarantine and monitoring. However, the highlight that I am very much aware of in Covid-19 is how government officials do not really prioritize the well-being of Filipinos, creating "dolomite beach," as such.

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Upon learning about the cholera epidemic that happened in the Philippines a very long time ago, I have come to the realization that there are many similarities between the cholera epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first similarity is that both situations required proper sanitary measures. Both cholera and COVID-19 are infectious diseases, and both of them require proper sanitation to prevent the spread of disease. Both of them also required the implementation of quarantine.

The second is that both situations experienced a scarcity of food supplies. During the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, I observed that a lot of people were hoping to have “ayudas” from the government because it was such an unexpected event and people were not prepared for it.

The third is the healthcare system. Both of them had insufficient supplies, hospitals, and professionals to help combat the situation. As I observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital beds, rooms, and frontliners were not enough because of the high number of people who were infected by the disease, which is similar to the cholera epidemic.