The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) expressed support on the recommendation of the Department of Health (DOH) that the public should wear face masks even while they are at home to prevent family clustering of cases.
During the Laging Handa briefing on Monday, DILG spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said Secretary Eduardo Año has been suggesting the measure since last year.
“Iba na po ngayon ang mukha ng COVID. Dati nakukuha sa mga lugar ng trabaho o workplace. Ngayon, pami-pamilya na,” he said.
(“The pandemic has a new face now. Previously, the disease was being contracted in workplaces. Now, it is within the family.)
“Suportado po ng DILG ‘yang posisyon na ‘yan. In fact, ‘yan po ang posisyon ni Secretary Año from the very beginning,” he added.
(“The DILG supports that position. In fact, that’s the position of Secretary Año from the very beginning.”)
The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday called on the public to wear face masks even when they are inside their homes to prevent family clustering of COVID-19 cases.
In an interview with GMA News’ Unang Balita, DOH Epidemiology Bureau director Dr. Alethea de Guzman said wearing face masks at home will prevent a chain of transmission.
DILG supports wearing of face masks at home
“Lalo na po sa mga bahay na merong matatanda, merong mga kasama sa bahay na meron ding sakit katulad ng hypertension or diabetes, napakahalaga na nagfe-face mask tayo,” she said.
(Especially in households with elderly members or persons with hypertension or diabetes, it is very important that we wear face masks.)
“Sila po naiiwan sa bahay, tayo po lumalabas. So tayo ‘yung posibleng magdala ng mga infection na ito sa loob ng bahay at napakabilis po talaga mag-transmit within our homes,” she added.
(They are left at home while we go outside, so we might be the ones bringing the virus to our houses and it can transmit really quickly within our homes.)
The DOH earlier expressed concern about family clustering amid a new surge in COVID-19 cases.
“Kailangan maramdaman talaga nating lahat… na napakahalaga ng ginagawa nating minimum public health standards,” De Guzman said regarding the family clustering.