CITY OF MALOLOS–National Task Force Against COVID-19 Implementer and Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlto Galvez said here on Tuesday that Filipinos may again wear face shield as a vigilant measure against COVID-19 with the current Omicron variant from South Africa that has affected Europe and other countries.
Galvez who visited Bulacan on Tuesday during the second day of the three day national vaccination program said he and Health Secretary Francisco Duque are discussing the possible need to bring back the use of face shield.
In an interview with reporters he said, “nag-uusap kami ni Secretary Duque na posibleng ibalik ang pag gamit ng face shield bilang dagdag na protection”.
As the country’s preparations against the infection from Omicron variant, the national government has now made adjustments on border control and as response to pandemic has once again reorganized the hospital ICU’s, wards and reinstitute ventilators.
“With our experience in Delta, we made our preparations and had faced it perfectly, but with this current Omicron variant, we don’t know yet its dynamics and characteristics”.
The chief implementer said the national government is closely monitoring the different dynamics and characteristics of the new variant. They had also suspend the entry of travellers from green countries by subjecting them to quarantine facility control and testing. “It is Christmas Season now but we have to balance the restrictions”.
Galvez said discipline and vaccine are two major defense and deterrent against the virus.
He said at the height of the Delta virus, 85 percent of those brought to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and deaths are unvaccinated.
The goal of the three day vaccination is to raise the current 45% to herd immunity requirement rate of vaccinated Filipinos while 35% of the full population.
He said with the second three day vaccination on Dec. 15, 16 and 17, the country expects to reach the 70% herd immunity.
Galvez is confident the 9 million target in this 3-day “Bayanihan Bakunahan: Ligtas, Lakas Buong Pinas” will be achieved despite the only more than 2.5 million reached yesterday.
