Lopez: No vaxxed people aged 65 and above in dine-in, personal care services

(FILE) Alfresco diners enjoy their meals minding safety and health protocols at the designated outside dining area of restaurants in SM City North Edsa in Quezon City on April 30, 2021. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez is proposing that only vaccinated persons aged below 65 be allowed to avail of dine-in and personal care services during “safe reopenings” following a lockdown.

During a taped briefing aired on Saturday, Lopez reiterated his appeal to allow vaccinated individuals in dine-in and personal care services, stressing the need for a “different approach” other than lockdowns to address the pandemic.

“Ang iniisip po natin, safe reopening, especially during MECQ. ‘Yung middle ground is para safe, we allow only the vaccinated. Safe sila sa mga restricted sectors na to. We can say na vaccinated na below 65 years old,” Lopez said.

(What we are thinking is having a safe opening during MECQ. The middle ground is allowing only the vaccinated in these places. They are safe in these restricted sectors. We can say we can allow those vaccinated who are 65 years old.)

“Kasi kapag vaccinated na mas matanda, above 65, delikado pa rin kapag tinamaan ng COVID. Pero ‘yung mas bata ay mas malakas,” he added.

(Vaccinated individuals who are above 65 years old can still be at risk. But the younger ones are healthier.)

Lopez said it will be up to health experts if they will set an age limit for vaccinated individuals who may be allowed to avail of dine-in and personal care services during the reopening of these sectors.

The Trade Secretary is pushing for reopening these sectors citing the 2 million workers affected in the closure of dine-in services and 400,000 workers in salons and personal care services.