Reconsider ‘lockdown’ of seniors, ex-gov of Negros Occidental urges IATF, LGUs

BACOLOD CITY –– Former Negros Occidental governor Rafael Coscolluela has joined other senior citizens in calling for an end to the “lockdown” on all persons 60 years old and above.

“To be clear, all immunocompromised persons, regardless of age, should take extra precautionary measures, including staying at home, except for urgent or other legitimate reasons, to minimize their risk of infection,” said Coscolluela, who is 73 years old.

He said not allowing senior citizens to go out of their homes during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was understandable.

But Coscolluela said the protocol should not continue under the general community quarantine (GCQ), especially that some senior citizens are healthy and need to go back to work.

“This country, after all, is run by a large number of seniors, including those in the Cabinet, Congress, LGUs (local government units) and major businesses and industries,” he said.

A “new normal,” he said, is not viable when even productive seniors are placed on house arrest or quarantine.

“We thus fervently ask the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) and all local governments to reconsider the lockdown on seniors,” he said.