Palace: Fully vaccinated senior citizens in NCR can go out, visit malls

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — As long as they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, senior citizens are allowed to go out of their homes and visit malls in Metro Manila, which is currently under Alert Level 3, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made the remark over concerns that some malls still refuse entry to seniors who have been vaccinated against the disease.

“Hindi natin binabawi iyong incentive na binigay natin sa seniors na kapag sila ay vaccinated eh pupuwede po silang pumunta sa mga malls at pupuwede silang lumabas ng bahay, ganoon pa rin iyon,” he said in a Palace briefing.

(We are not rescinding the incentives we gave to seniors when they are fully vaccinated. They can go to malls and they can go out of their houses.)

“Ang hindi natin ina-allow pa ngayon ay iyong mga menor de edad na magpunta sa mga malls kasi hindi sila bakunado, unlike the senior citizens na posibleng bakunado na sila,” Roque said.

(What we do not allow are the minors to go to malls since they are still unvaccinated, unlike senior citizens who are already vaccinated.)

For senior citizens to enter malls, Roque said they must present proof of vaccination.

Over 24 million individuals in the Philippines are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Roque said, while 28 million individuals have at least received their first dose.

Metro Manila was downgraded to Alert Level 3 starting Oct. 16, which allowed establishments to increase their operational capacities.