While 79 percent of Filipinos always used a face mask when going out – part of health protocols during the pandemic – the practice of using the mask declined in Metro Manila, down by 13 points from 90 percent, according to a special survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).
The survey, from Sept. 17 to Sept. 20, found that in the past month, 79 percent of Filipinos wore a face mask when going out of their house rose from 76 percent in July and 77 percent in May.
But those who “always” follow the protocols declined in Metro Manila. The number of those who always used face masks in the National Capital Region went down by 13 points from 90 percent to 77 percent.
The survey used mobile phone and computer-assisted telephone interviewing of 1,249 Filipinos 18 years old and above nationwide.
It had a sampling margin of error of plus-or- minus 3 percent for national percentages.
The Palace welcomed the survey results, saying the majority of Filipinos followed the government’s health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said the survey showed that the government’s drive to inform and educate people to observe public health standards had reached the Filipino people.
However, Roque warned that Filipinos should not be lulled into complacency, as there remained no cure or vaccine for COVID-19.
Compared to July, those who always used a face mask rose in the Visayas (86 percent from 82 percent), Mindanao (78 percent from 72 percent) and in Luzon outside of Manila (76 percent from 72 percent).
Those who always washed their hands also rose in the Visayas (75 percent from 69 percent) and in Luzon outside of Manila (64 percent from 59 percent).
It barely changed in Mindanao (69 percent from 67 percent). But it fell by 10 points in Metro Manila, from 73 percent to 63 percent.
The practice of wearing a face shield when riding public transportation or going to establishments like malls, markets, or drugstores was surveyed by SWS for the first time.
The September 17-20, 2020 National Mobile Phone Survey was conducted when most areas of the country were already under the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ).
The survey showed that 79 percent said they always used a face mask when going out of the house, 14 percent most of the time, 5 percent sometimes, and 1 percent rarely/never.
These proportions hardly changed from the 76 percent who said they always used a face mask since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, 17 percent most of the time, 4 percent sometimes, and 2 percent rarely/never in July 2020.
Those who practiced physical distance were highest in the Visayas at 66 percent, followed by Metro Manila at 65 percent, Mindanao at 60 percent, and Balance Luzon at 56 percent.
Compared to July 2020, the proportion of those who always kept physical distance rose slightly in Mindanao, up by 3 points from 57 percent.
It hardly changed in the Visayas, up by 2 points from 64 percent. It stayed at 56 percent in Balance Luzon.
However, it fell slightly in Metro Manila, down by 3 points from 68 percent.
Those who always used a face shield when riding public transportation or going to establishments like malls, markets, and drugstores were highest in the Visayas at 66 percent, followed by Mindanao at 58 percent, Metro Manila at 55 percent, and Balance Luzon at 52 percent.