ILOILO City – While economic and leisure activities in Western Visayas’ regional center gradually resume due to the easing of pandemic restrictions, Ilonggos – vaccinated or not – should still follow the mask mandate to prevent coronavirus transmission.
Aware that people could be asymptomatic carriers of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Mayor Jerry Treñas is urging continued precaution.
“The virus is still here,” he said. “Never forget to wear your masks.”
COVID-19 cases in the city are dropping, pushing the alert level down. This is mainly attributed to the high vaccination rate. But Treñas said Ilonggos must continue to observe minimum health standards.
Bars and night clubs have reopened under the city’s Alert Level 2. Treñas encouraged socializing but reminded everyone “not to put our protection down.”
How to put on and take off a mask?
Before touching the mask, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), one must clean their hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
Inspect the mask for tears or holes; do not use a mask that has previously been worn or is damaged.
Verify which side is the top – this is usually where the metal strip is.
Then, identify the inside of the mask, which is usually the white side.
Place the mask on your face covering your nose, mouth and chin, making sure that there are no gaps between your face and the mask. Place the straps behind your head or ears. Do not cross the straps because this can cause gaps on the side of the mask.
Pinch the metal strip so it molds to the shape of your nose.
Now, in doffing masks, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
Remove the straps from behind the head or ears, without touching the front of the mask.
As you remove the mask, lean forward and pull the mask away from your face.
Medical masks are for single use only; discard the mask immediately, preferably into a closed bin.
Clean your hands after touching the mask.
Be aware of the condition of the mask; replace it if it gets soiled or damp.
WHO also discourages using masks with valves.
“Let us not forget what we went through to get here,” Treñas said.
In Western Visayas, the Department of Health also continues to remind the public not to deviate from the mask mandate.
As of Nov. 21, active COVID-19 cases in the region drastically dropped to 4,898 from more than 16,000 in September.
Meantime, a total of 136,241 or 94 percent of the region’s cumulative cases have recovered.
The death toll was at 3,823./PN