Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 2) — Residents and workers in Luzon are now required to wear surgical masks or similar covers when they leave their homes, Inter-agency Task Force spokesperson Karlo Nograles said on Thursday.

He said everyone covered by the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine are required to wear surgical masks, do-it-yourself masks, handkerchiefs, or improvised cloth that covers the nose and mouth at all times to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

"Kung kailangan po nating lumabas ng bahay, kailangan po mag-mask. Kahit improvised ito o panyo, basta po may pangtakip tayo ng bibig at ilong," he said in a media briefing.

Nograles said this order will last until the end of Luzon quarantine, which is on April 13.

The coronavirus disease is spread through small droplets from the nose or mouth when people infected with the virus cough or sneeze.

The World Health Organization on Monday stood by its recommendation to not wear masks if you are not sick or not caring for someone who is sick.

The country has recorded 2,311 patients with the viral disease, with 96 dead. Only 50 have recovered so far.