SENATOR Risa Hontiveros urged school administrators to continue enforcing health protocols such as the wearing of face masks during the full implementation of face-to-face classes.

Wearing face masks is the first line of defense regardless if classrooms are air conditioned or not, the senator said.

She pointed out that social distancing is not always observed, thus the need to mask up.

She also urged the public to watch out for the new Covid19 variants that may emerge as families start to gather to mark All Saints’ Day and celebrate Christmas.

“We know from previous surges that the trigger was family reunions,” Hontiveros said.

“So let’s learn that lesson and use it in preventive health practices. Masking is one of the lowest cost interventions. And we know in public health and enshrined in our universal healthcare law the saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” she added.