Executive Order No. 7 Makes Indoor and Outdoor Masking in the Philippines Voluntary in Most Situations, but Continues to Push and Endorse Vaccination and Boosting of the Population.

All government instrumentalities are instructed to support this EO and the IATF

President Marcos has signed EO No. 7 on 27th October 2022 with the immediate effect of making both indoor and outdoor masking voluntary in most situations. The EO also reiterates continued implementation of Minimum Public Health Standards.

Clause 1. Reiterates that under the constitution the state shall protect and promote the right to health of the people. How will the work if one of the key measures that this EO is promoting turn out to be damaging to the people’s health?

Clauses 2 and 3 identify that this EO is issued for the Philippines to be in line with other countries which are opening borders and relaxing health and safety protocols to benefit their economies.

Interesting that the author of this EO equates the Covid-19 products with “immunization” against Covid-19 and this being the reason that borders are being opened and protocols relaxed! The latest information confirming that these products don’t prevent infection or transmission, is ignored!

The order requires masking only in healthcare facilities, medical transport vehicles, and public transport by land, air or sea. It encourages masking for certain population groups to include the “vulnerable” and the unvaccinated.

While this EO removes masking for most scenarios, it still requires compliance with minimum health standards of hygiene, hand washing, physical distancing, and maintenance of good ventilation.

This EO continues to push the Covid-19 products; it specifically requires all LGUs to provide regular updates on their vaccination status and encourages expansion of vaccination and booster coverage.

Further, it requires all government departments, agencies, instrumentalities including higher education institutions to support the implementation of this order.

While part of this EO is a step in the direction of sanity with the removal of mandatory masks, there is no apparent relaxation of other “minimum health standards”, and there is the continuing obsession with getting everyone jabbed multiple times!

It remains to be seen whether most people even remove their masks. Outdoor mask wearing has not been required since 12 September 2022 when EO No. 3 s.2022 was issued; most people in Manila continue to wear masks, regardless, already well conditioned to keep their faces covered over the past 2 1/2 years.

This is not anywhere near over yet!