The Department of Labor and Employment called on both employers and workers to wear face masks in workplaces following the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country to ensure safe and healthy working conditions.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said employers may opt to implement a policy requiring the wearing of face masks because of the risks arising from enclosed spaces and poor ventilation.
He said that while wearing face masks in workplaces “remains voluntary,” employers and their workers have a shared responsibility to ensure safe and healthful working conditions following the provisions of the Labor Code of the Philippines and minimum public health standards.
Laguesma said the government still recognizes the right of employers to decide what is best for their companies, as long as prevailing labor laws are followed.
“Whatever policies the employers intend to implement for their respective workplaces should be just and reasonable. What is important is for them to first look into the present condition of the company,” Laguesma said.
The labor chief also urged employers to implement a work-from-home scheme due to the sudden increase in illnesses such as colds, coughs, and flu, as well as telecommuting schemes.
For his part, infectious disease expert Rontgene Solante said the public should consider wearing face masks during holiday gatherings to prevent the possible spike of COVID-19 cases and influenza-like illnesses.
“Wearing face masks is more of a responsibility of people to protect themselves and others,” Solante said during the Philippine College of Physicians Health Forum.
The doctor, however, does not recommend restricting public gatherings.
“If we want to protect ourselves, we should wear a face mask. If you have symptoms, don’t expose yourself too much to people so they don’t get infected,” Solante said.
“I think there are some who will get hospitalized because of pneumonia, and other respiratory infections. But I don’t see the scenario that the hospitals will be filled to the point that others will not be able to get admitted,” he added.
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said hospitalization due to COVID-19 has yet to increase even as the DOH observed a 50 percent rise in cases during one week.
“Our cases in the hospitals are not increasing. So what does that mean? Even if our numbers of COVID-19 are reportedly higher, our hospitals are not yet getting filled up by cases of COVID-19,” Herbosa said in an interview on ANC.
He said the public should also be concerned with other respiratory illnesses such as influenza and influenza-like illnesses.
“So the previous recommendations during the time of the pandemic, of wearing masks, especially if you are immunocompromised, would be a good idea,” Herbosa said.
