DOH nixes proposal to allow minors outside, go to malls

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. INQUIRER file photo / EDWIN BACASMAS

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday thumbed down the proposal to allow minors to go outside their homes and, much more, go to malls, saying that minors are not exempted from COVID-19 infection and could also be spreaders of the virus.

In an online media forum, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III noted that 3% to 5% of total COVID-19 cases in the country are composed of the youth, therefore the DOH discourages allowing minors outside their homes.

“Hangga’t sa maaari, we discourage that dahil mayroon pa ring risk,” he said.

(As much as possible, we discourage that because there is still the risk.)

“Halos 3% to 5% ng ating total infected cases ay sa mga bata nangyari so hindi po sila exempted sa hawaan,” Duque added.

(About 3-5% of the total infected cases are children so they are not exempted from infection.)

Even though they may not show severe symptoms, children may, however, be the cause of the spread of the coronavirus, the Health secretary pointed out.

“Kapag nagsalita, yumakap kay lolo, kay lola, kay tito, kay mommy, pwedeng sila rin ang maging sanhi ng pagkalat at magkakaroon tayo ng mataas na infection rate,” Duque said.

(When they talk or hug their relatives, children could be the cause for transmission and we would have a high infection rate.)

“We discourage this, ‘wag na po lumabas ang mga bata,” he added.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said minors may soon go to malls as long as their parents or guardians accompany them. Local government units, however, must come up with a resolution or ordinance that would provide the age bracket of minors that would be allowed in malls.

For Metro Manila, mayors will still consult medical experts before they decide whether to allow minors to go outside and go to malls.

The Metro Manila mayors will soon vote on whether to allow minors to visit malls.

JPV