Angeles City revives ‘no face mask, no entry’ policy in gov’t offices

The local government unit of Angeles City, Pampanga issued a memorandum that again mandated face-mask use in government offices due to COVID-19.

According to a memorandum issued on May 29,  face-mask wearing would be “strictly” enforced in all city government offices and the city hall.

The city government also “highly encouraged” face mask use in public places and transportation.

However,  the memorandum added that private establishments had discretion as to whether they would require face masks on their premises.

The city government also encouraged one-meter social distancing in public places, workplaces, and gatherings.

In issuing the memorandum, the Angeles City LGU cited the spike in COVID-19 cases in the country, with 12,426 new patients logged from May 15 to 21.

GMA Integrated News Research said this was the largest number of weekly COVID-19 cases in 30 reporting weeks.

The LGU also noted the threat from new COVID-19 variants known as “FLiRT.” The World Health Organization said it was monitoring the four JN.1 sublineages - JN.1.7, JN.1.18, KP.2, and KP.3.

The Department of Health, however, emphasized that there was no current evidence, both locally and internationally, that showed that the KP.2 and KP.3 variants could cause severe to critical COVID-19.

In  October 2022, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. made indoor and outdoor face mask use optional. — DVM, GMA Integrated News