PNP urges public to follow rules on face shields

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar yesterday urged the people to comply with President Duterte’s directive retaining the mandatory use of face shields on top of masks in public places to avoid getting infected with COVID-19.

- EMMANUEL TUPAS

Eleazar asked the public to strictly follow Duterte’s order amid the threat of the more transmissible Delta COVID variant.

“This is for the protection of everyone especially since we now have the Delta variant in the country,” he said. “According to the experts, this variant is no joke so we need to be extra careful.”

In an interview on radio dzBB, Eleazar reminded police officers to wear face shields and set an example, adding that he does not want to receive complaints about lawmen without the protective gear apprehending violators.

He directed police officers to exercise maximum tolerance and refrain from imposing sanctions on those who fail to wear face shields. Penalties should be imposed based on ordinances of local government units.

‘Small inconvenience’

The mandatory wearing of face shields is a “small inconvenience” that can avert a “disaster,” President Duterte said as he stressed that the Philippines cannot afford another surge in COVID-19 infections.

Duterte has decided to require the wearing of face shields in open and enclosed spaces, adopting the recommendation of health experts who noted that the facial cover provides an additional layer of protection against the virus.