December 28, 2022
Dear Ryan Cuartero,
Greetings!
Thank you for your request dated Dec 11, 2022 08:58:54 AM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.
Your Request
You asked for Fauci Couldn’t Name Any Studies Showing Masks Work Against COVID-19: Lawyers.
Response to Request
Your FOI request is approved.
First and foremost, we would like to thank you for reaching out to the Department of Health (DOH). Please be informed that several international medical institutions have conducted a study pertaining to the efficacy of facemask. Among these is the study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on "Effectiveness of Face Mask or Respirator Use in Indoor Public Settings for Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Infection", which summarized that consistent use of face mask or respirator in indoor public settings was associated with lower odds of a positive SARS-CoV-2 Test results and use of respirators with higher filtration capacity was associated with the most protection, compared with no mask use. For further information, please visit this link: https://bit.ly/CDC_FacemaskEfficacy
In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued "Interim Guidance on Mask Use in the Context of COVID-19" (https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/337199) which compiles relevant scientific evidence on the use of masks to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
We would like to reiterate that despite the gradual transition to endemicity, we must not be complacent with our protocols and shall encourage everyone to observe the minimum public health standards, be keen in adhering to our Prevent, Detect, Isolate, Treat and Reintegrate plus Vaccinate (PDITR+) Strategy which we continually update depending on case trends, consultation from our expert groups, as well as on evidences available. We continue to uphold these equitable actions which are safe, effective and economical.
For other concerns, you may communicate through email:
[email protected]
Thank you
Your right to request a review
If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response by writing to the Central Appeals and Review Committee, at
[email protected]. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made within 15 calendar days from the date when you received this letter. We will complete the review and tell you the result within 30 calendar days from the date when we receive your review request.
If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011).
Thank you.
Respectfully,
FOI Decision Maker
FOI Receiving Officer
