Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday, October 2, that requiring the wearing of face masks amid an increase in flu-like symptoms among students is left to the discretion of school officials.
“It’s at the discretion of schools because it will be the problem of the schools if it really spreads among students,” he said.
Lacson pointed out that face masks will not only protect one from COVID-19 but from other viruses.
“There seems to be a virus happening now, not only here but also in Manila, where some of the schools actually went back to online schooling,” Lacson said.
The governor said he has never stopped using a face mask since the pandemic.
In the past he easily caught colds but since he has been wearing face masks in the last four years he only caught a cold once, Lacson said.
“This is already an individual decision, there is some sort of an advantage if you wear a face mask,” he said.
He is urging Negrenses to wear face masks in crowded places, especially in buses, jeepneys and airplanes.*