(PNA photo by Joey O. Razon) MANILA - The optional wearing of face masks outdoors may not affect the number of corona virus disease (2019) infections if it becomes a policy, the OCTA Research Group said Thursday. This, after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) recommended on Wednesday the optional wearing of face masks in outdoor spaces that are not crowded and with good ventilation. "So, maaaring hindi ganoon kabahagya na maapektuhan ang ating mga numero over the next few weeks but of course, tingnan natin ang mga datos natin (So, our number may not be that affected over the next few weeks but of course, let's look at our data) these coming days," said OCTA Research Group fellow Dr. Butch Ong in a televised public briefing. Ong said the risk of Covid-19 transmission outdoors is lower but preventive measures must be strengthened if the face mask mandate will be eased. "For example, kapag tayo ay may karamdaman o m