- BERT BAYORAN
The wearing of face mask outdoor is now optional in Negros Occidental.
This was stipulated in Executive Order No. 22-45, series of 2022, signed by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson Sept. 9.
Lacson, however, pointed out that the wearing of face mask indoors, and in hospitals and medical facilities, is still mandatory.
He also required those entering the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City to wear their face mask.
Earlier, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) recommended the voluntary use of face mask outdoors.
The Department of Health, however, clarified that the optional wearing of face mask is only for low-risk individuals, and in low risk settings.
Despite his executive order, Lacson said he will continue to appeal to senior citizens and immunocompromised persons to continue wearing face masks.
As of Sept. 11, Negros Occidental logged 176 active COVID-19 cases, with one death.
A cumulative report since March 27, 2020 up to Sunday showed that Negros Occidental had 42,712 total COVID cases, with 40,526 recoveries, and 2,009 deaths./GB
