Eased quarantine rules for minors possible, under review — DILG
( INQUIRER/FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)
MANILA, Philippines — Minors may be allowed at least in al fresco dining outlets amid the possible shift to Alert Level 2, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said Thursday.
This, however, still depends on the recommendation of the Department of Health and the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
“At the very least, outside in al fresco establishments. We just began the vaccination of minors,” Malaya said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel when asked about the possibility of allowing minors to dine outdoors.
“I think we’re going to stick with the rule that all those who do dine-in must all be vaccinated as a rule, so if there’s a possibility it will be at the dining out or in the al fresco areas but let’s wait for that final decision from the IATF before we make plans,” he added.
Malaya likewise said that allowing minors in other areas such as malls and parks is also being discussed “very intensely” in the IATF.
Article continues after this advertisement“I can expect an announcement very soon by the IATF on how we are going to treat the minors because I myself am looking forward to have my kids with me also outside, even in malls,” Malaya said.
Article continues after this advertisement“Under the alert level system, the general rule is that the individuals that are 65 and above and 18 or below can only go out for what is called as essential activities and they can go and buy food but they cannot utilize or eat the food inside malls… So we hope that there will be some changes there and that has been intensely discussed by the IATF,” he added.
According to Malaya, establishments under alert level 2 are allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity for indoor and 70 percent for outdoor areas.
Indoor capacity increases to 60 percent if the establishment has a safety seal.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Wednesday that the government will begin the nationwide rollout of COVID-19 vaccination for all minors aged 12 to 17 “as early as November 3.”
