WHILE saying he’ll support the government’s decision to make it voluntary for Filipinos to wear face masks indoors and outdoors, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy said the QR (quick response) code for the city stays for now.
“Unless we receive a recommendation from the local IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force), based on the advice of (City Health Office chief) Dr. Rachel Dilla, the QR code stays for now,” Mayor Uy said during his Friday radio program ‘Ang Inyong Alagad: Mayor Klarex.’ President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. signed last Friday Executive Order No. 7 making it voluntary for Filipinos to wear face masks in public.
“While I’m happy that (the possibility of) wearing face masks may become optional, it all depends on every person’s awareness (and sense of responsibility). If you feel that you are at risk of contracting Covid-19 or that you feel symptoms and are concerned about possibly infecting others, then you should wear a face mask (to protect yourself and others),” Uy said in Visayan.
Mayor Uy said the likelihood of contracting the virus remains high, especially during rainy days and weather changes that can lower a person’s immunity.
“Even when he or she is healthy, when one is inside an air-conditioned room, wearing face masks is extra protection. We don’t know if the person next to you has the virus. (We should be responsible for ourselves and others),” Uy said in Visayan.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco previously announced President Marcos’s move to make it voluntary for Filipinos to wear face masks both indoors and outdoors except inside healthcare facilities, and public and medical transport vehicles. But the wearing of face masks is still encouraged among the elderly, immuno-compromised, pregnant women, and those unvaccinated.
The Department of Education also made it optional for students to wear face masks inside classrooms. But when asked if City Hall will scrap the QR code requirement for the public, Uy said it stays for now.
The QR code set up by City Hall is required for persons entering public establishments and government offices.
“What’s important is the health of the children, pregnant women, elderly, and those with immune-compromised,” Uy said.
As per the latest data from the City Health Office, the city logged 20 new Covid-19 cases and 15 recoveries while its active cases went up to 122 as of 10 pm on Nov. 1.
Of the 122 active cases, about 67 are confined in public and private hospitals, and 55 are confined in the city’s isolation facilities. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)
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