PRESIDENT President Duterte urged local government units to pass ordinances banning children aged 12 below from malls and other public spaces to protect them from COVID-19.
Those below 12 years old or those who are still unvaccinated and at risk of getting the virus should not be allowed in public places, as per the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases, President Duterte said.
“Again, to the parents and guardians of minors who are unvaccinated, please be mindful of the risk. Part of caring for them is thinking about their safety. I hope no one among our children will get COVID-19,” he said.
The President’s reminder came as the country experiences a downward trend in COVID-19 infections, which has led to lowering of quarantine restrictions in most areas in the country, including Metro Manila.
The President said that while he understands the eagerness of parents to bring their children outdoors again, the government’s decision to reopen more establishments and allow more mobility is aimed at helping the economy recover.
Despite some relaxation in restrictions, the public must be cautious, the President said, as he cited a recent report where a two-year-old child was tested positive for COVID-19 after visiting a mall.
metrosundaily
