SOME universities have allowed the optional wearing of face masks in non-crowded areas in their campuses.

These include the University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle-Lipa

In a memorandum, University of Santo Tomas Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel said the wearing of face mask policy applies only in non-crowded outdoor venues where there is good ventilation and physical distancing.

However, unvaccinated individuals and those with comorbidities were “strongly advised” to always wear face masks on campus.

“Each of us has a shared responsibility to keep ourselves and others safe from infection. We strongly encourage the Thomasian community to constantly evaluate the health risks in every action and exercise judgment on the most appropriate mitigating measures to take,” Coronel said.

He noted that wearing of face masks are still required indoors.

Meanwhile, the De La Salle-Lipa also adopted the Executive Order No. 3 signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. allowing the voluntary use of face masks in outdoors.

“Starting September 12, 2022, the wearing of face masks will be voluntary in open spaces or non-crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation,” DLSL said in an advisory.

“However, students and Lasallian Partners are still required to wear face masks when indoors,” it added.

The university said that the use of health declaration forms or paper-based contract tracing in the institution will not be mandatory.