Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to ease the age range of those allowed to go out amid quarantine restrictions is “based on science and hard data,” Malacañang said Friday.
According to IATF Resolution No. 79, those aged 15 to 65 are now allowed to go out, provided they follow the required measures like wearing of face mask and face shield.
Since March, those under 21 and over 60 were required to stay at home unless for the provision of basic necessities and to go to work.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said “global experience has shown that the case fatality rate and severity of sickness between 15 and 20 years old vis-à-vis those who are 65 years old and above is much less as younger people have fewer health risks while there is a prevalence of immunodeficiency and comorbidity among senior citizens who would be better off at home.”
“This is in addition to the fact that the age of 65 is the retirement age of most in the private sector,” Roque said in a statement.
Health experts have previously warned that older adults with preexisting health conditions were more vulnerable to the coronavirus, particularly those aged over 60-years-old.
As of Thursday, there are 348,698 confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide, including 294,161 recoveries and 6,497 deaths.