Kids aged 5 and up now allowed outdoors in MGCQ, GCQ areas sans heightened restrictions

File photo shows a group of children at the Children’s  Playground at Rizal Park / Luneta in the City of Manila. (INQUIRER PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — Children aged 5 years and up in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) and general community quarantine (GCQ), except those under heightened restrictions, are now allowed in specific outdoor facilities, Malacañang announced Friday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the government’s pandemic task force, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) agreed to allow children under the said age bracket during a meeting on Thursday night.

Outdoor areas shall be limited to parks, playgrounds, beaches, biking and hiking trails, outdoor tourist sites, and attractions as may be defined by the Department of Tourism, he said.

It may also include outdoor non-contact sports courts and venues, and al-fresco dining establishments.

Children are still not allowed in mixed-used indoor and outdoor buildings and facilities such as malls, Roque added.

“Children must be supervised by adults and observe minimum public health standards, such as wearing of face masks and social distancing,” said Roque, who also serves as the IATF spokesperson.

He added that local government units have the discretion to increase children’s age restrictions depending on the COVID-19 situation in their areas.

Previously, the IATF only allowed persons aged 15 to 65 to go out of their homes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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