The Philippines Government is continues fighting the coronavirus disease.
According to The Strait Times, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the police to arrest anyone not wearing a mask properly, including having it below the nose, as the country battles to contain surging coronavirus infections.
Mr. Duterte issued the directive after a meeting with his Covid-19 task force - where everyone except him can be seen wearing the mandatory face covering - an official video released late on May 5 showed.
Thousands of people have been punished for violating Covid-19 rules since the end of March, when restrictions were tightened in the capital and its surrounding provinces after a spike in cases.
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The Strait Times mentions, the Justice Secretary and police chief have urged officers to fine offenders or make them do community service instead of arresting them, following the death of a man who was forced to do 100 squats as punishment for breaking curfew.
But Mr Duterte said the police should get tough on rule breakers and arrest those not wearing a mask properly - including those who leave their nose exposed.
Mr Duterte's spokesman Harry Roque confirmed the arrest order on May 6, saying violators could be held for up to 12 hours without charge.
Rights group Karapatan slammed the latest directive as "brazenly unscientific and ineffective", as well as a "disproportionate use of force".
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