With Delta variant, DOH presses need to study protocol allowing kids outside

FILE PHOTO: Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire. INQUIRER file photo / EDWIN BACASMAS

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) said Saturday there is a need to review the decision of the government to allow children aged five and above to go out of their residences in some areas following the detection of local cases of the highly transmissible COVID-19 Delta variant.

“Kailangan natin pag-aralan of course, because there is another factor that has to be considered kung saan nakadetect tayo ng Delta variant,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said at the Laging Handa public briefing when asked if there is a need to reconsider the decision.

(We need to study it of course because there is another factor that has to be considered after we detected Delta variant cases.)

However, Vergeire stressed that the government provided safeguards when it allowed children in the said age group to go out in specific outdoor facilities in areas under modified general community quarantine and general community quarantine, except those under heightened restrictions.

“Katulad ng lagi nating sinasabi, kapag tayo ay nagkakaroon ng easing ng restrictions, there are safeguards in place so kailangan lang talaga let us all follow safety protocols so we can be protected,” she said.

(Like what we always say, if we implement easing of restrictions, there are safeguards in place so we just need to follow safety protocols in order to be protected.)

“Itong mga restrictions na ito, pag-uusapan ‘yan and we will be monitoring closely and continuously assess para makakapagrekomenda tayo sa IATF,” she added.

(These restrictions will be discussed and we will be monitoring closely and continuously assessing these so we can come up with a recommendation to the Inter-Agency Task Force.)

The country has so far confirmed a total of 35 cases of the Delta variant, including 11 that were tagged as local cases. At least two of the cases have died while the rest have already recovered.

JPV