The Department of Health on Friday said it is not keen on recommending the return of mandatory masking in public places amid the increasing number of Covid-19 cases and other respiratory diseases.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said the mandatory masking in some hospitals, particularly the Philippine General Hospital, is being implemented to protect visitors, patients and healthcare workers.

"Several hospitals were implementing stricter masking. If you enter the PGH, you will be required to wear a mask but that doesn't mean that we all need to wear masks," Herbosa said.

"It is only because if you are a visitor, you may contract Covid-19. It is for your own protection that they are telling you to wear a mask," he added.

Earlier this week, the PGH started requiring all medical personnel and visitors to wear masks within the hospital's vicinity.

The hospital's management said the move was due to the reported increase in the number of cases of Covid-19 that also affected its healthcare workers as Herbosa confirmed that there is an uptick in the number of cases which left allocated Covid-19 beds in some hospitals across the country almost fully occupied.