Face mask, Face shield ordinance enforced soon

May 8, 2021 Metro BLISTT

Baguio City May 7, 2021 – The city government will soon enforce the Face Mask and Face Shield Ordinance of 2021 following completion of its amendment process. Approved on final reading by the city council last April 5, Ordinance No. 49 series of 2021 amended sections no. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of Ordinance No. 45- 2020 or the Face Mask Ordinance of Baguio City by incorporating the face shield requirement.
The amended ordinance now also regulates the indiscriminate disposal of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the city. The measure declares it unlawful for all persons including tourists and
outsiders who leave their homes to go to public places, buildings, national roads or highway, sidewalks, walkways, or public conveyances or other similar establishments, without wearing face mask and face shield until the threat of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is completely eliminated in the country or during the State of Public Health Emergency.
This however is subject to exceptions. Face masks will not be required to be worn in the following circumstances: * Infants and children who are two (2) years old and below; * When eating or drinking in public places; and * Where the wearing of face masks impedes physical and sensory functioning of Persons with Disability (PWDs).
Face shields will not be required to be worn in the following circumstances: * Infants and children who are two (2) years old and below; * When eating or drinking in public places; * Where patients have been advised by their physicians against wearing face shields due to a particular medical condition; * Where the wearing of face shields impedes physical and sensory functioning of
Persons with Disability (PWDs); * While engaged in activities that require physical exertion such as brisk walking, jogging, running, biking, aerobic exercises, and other forms of physical exercise
provided that physical distancing is strictly observed; and * Where the wearing of face shields directly cause hazard or impede vision or mobility while in the conduct of work or while driving vehicles.
As to public utility vehicles, Memorandum Circular No. 2020-014 [Mandatory Wearing of Face Shields for Passengers Using Public Transportation] issued by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), and Joint Memorandum Circular No. 20-04 [DTI and DOLE Supplemental Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and Control of COVID-19] issued by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on the “No Face Shield, No Face Mask, No Ride” policy will apply that covers all public transportation sectors.
The ordinance also prohibits transacting business with any person not wearing a face mask and a face shield in the public markets, supermarkets, groceries, malls, shopping centers, and government offices but for employees, workers or personnel within these establishments and offices, they may momentarily remove their face shields where the conduct of their work does not involve face to face or person to person interaction with clients, customers, visitors or co-employees and provided that social or physical distancing is observed and/or the presence of a plastic barrier in between the transacting parties.
Further, the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 20-04 of DTI and DOLE states that face shield requirement applies to all private establishments to include banks. Other prohibited acts are hoarding, profiteering, or manipulating the prices for face masks or face shields being sold to the general public and indiscriminately discarding or disposing used and/or damaged face mask, face shield, gloves, and tissues or any fabric used in cleaning face shields.
“To reduce transmission of the virus during solid waste collection, disinfection should be done before disposal of used face masks, face shields and hand gloves. This can be done by soaking the face mask and/or face shield for ten minutes in a strong solution using one part (part can be of any unit of measure, e.g. liter ounce, cup, tablespoon, teaspoon) household bleach mixed with nine parts clean water. After disinfection, the item/s shall be placed in a plastic container preferably transparent, separated from other wastes and labeled as “Used Face Mask/s” or “Used Face Shield/s” as the case may be. Said plastic container must be sealed.”
Aileen P. Refuerzo/ABN