MANILA: Wearing face mask as a deterrent to Covid-19 infections remains compulsory for students in Central Visayas, including Cebu.
The Department of Education (DepEd) -Central Visayas office announced this despite the decision by the Cebu city government to ease the mandate, Philstar.com reported.
DepEd regional director Salustiano Jimenez said the order stays and thanked Cebu Mayor Michael Rama for allowing the department to exercise its discretion.
Jimenez said unvaccinated students and teachers are allowed to participate in face-to-face classes, hence the use of face masks in schools could give parents a sense of security.
"Since it has been our protocol and we don't want to scare our parents and learners, we have to continue observing these protocols," he said.
Jimenez said no new Covid-19 infection has been recorded among teachers, learners and non-teaching personnel in Central Visayas since the start of in-person classes this school year.
He also said only 11 percent of over two million students have been fully vaccinated.
Last week Rama issued an executive order that indicates the use of face masks is no longer mandatory in Cebu. He also set a "trial period" of Sept. 1 to Dec. 31 to relax the mask rule.
The order also states that wearing of masks will be mandatory again in the event of a surge in Covid-19 cases.
Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said she is encouraging the continued use of face masks despite the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases for its voluntary use outdoors.
She said children are among those considered as members of the vulnerable sector.