The Department of Health (DOH) said on Friday, December 30, that it seeks to strengthen COVID-19 protocols amid a surge of infections in China.

“The DOH directed the Bureau of Quarantine to intensify quarantine protocols such as heightened surveillance on all respiratory symptoms in all travelers and conveyances coming from China including a thorough review of Maritime Declaration of Health and health part of the Aircraft General Declaration, reporting of intercepted symptomatic passengers during arrival screening, submission of reports of COVID-19 positive travelers from points of entry, and other information dissemination efforts,” it said in a statement.

Malacañang has approved the recommendation by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to further ease travel restrictions for people entering the Philippines.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, via orders from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., issued a memorandum on Friday, October 28, approving the IATF resolution released on October 4.

More details here.

Gilbert Inocencio, principal of a public school in Pasig City, says they still encourage students to wear them as an added layer of protection against COVID-19 and other diseases.

Rappler’s Bonz Magsambol files this report.

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