WITH President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issuing an executive order allowing the optional wearing of face masks outdoors, vaccination and compliance to health protocols should be ramped up, City Hall’s epidemiologist said yesterday.
“We’re asking our city residents to still comply with minimum public health standards (amid an executive order allowing the optional wearing of face masks outdoors) such as wearing of face masks indoors, physical distancing, and hand hygiene. This compliance should be both an individual and collective commitment,” said City Hall epidemiologist Dr. Teodulfo Joselito Retuya Jr. during Monday’s Covid-19 response briefing.
Dr. Retuya said this hours before President Marcos Jr. issued the executive order to allow the optional wearing of face masks in well-ventilated and non-crowded areas.
However, the President’s order still mandated the wearing of face masks indoors while those who remain unvaccinated and/or have yet to complete their doses along with seniors and immuno-compromised are still required to wear their face masks.
In a press statement issued to local media outlets, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy said while City Hall will comply with the President’s executive order, the city’s Covid-19 response will be to meet government-mandated vaccination targets and enforce the wearing of face masks as mandated under the executive order.
“The primary focus of our Covid-19 response is to meet Covid-19 vaccination targets. Covid-19 vaccines give real protection against the virus…we will diligently enforce the rule on wearing of face masks as mandated by EO3 in settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained like (poorly ventilated) indoor spaces and public transportation,” Mayor Uy’s statement reads in part.
“Based on our data, we still have to complete our vaccination targets (as mandated under the national government’s PinasLakas program)..we should intensify our vaccination and we still have to find more ways to encourage our seniors (to complete their vaccination including their primary and booster shots),” Dr. Retuya said.
To fast-track, their vaccination efforts, Cagayan de Oro City Hall resumed its daily vaccination in city-managed sites while Mayor Uy approved the allocation of kilos of rice and a monthly supply of vitamins to entice those still unvaccinated.
More than 80 seniors secured their primary shots in the city as of this month since the nationwide launch of the PinasLakas vaccination program last July 26.
City Health Office data showed that more than 5,000 seniors in Cagayan de Oro City still have to complete their primary and booster vaccine shots.
“God forbid that if these seniors contract Covid-19, they will develop moderate to severe symptoms..we are also inviting parents of children aged five years old and older to bring their kids to get vaccinated in city-managed sites and barangay health centers,” Dr. Retuya said. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)
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