President Duterte: It’s too risky to allow minors to go out
President Rodrigo
Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency
Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the
Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on January 25, 2021. TOTO
LOZANO/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
In the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for
the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID)) last week, minors
aged 10 and up will be allowed in public places starting February 1. President
Duterte said he is taking back the earlier decision as a precautionary measure
to protect young people.
“So balik ho kayo sa bahay muna and besides ‘yung
10 years old to 14... Itong medyo matanda na mahirap itong i-manage but itong
10, 11, 12 puwede na ‘yan sila sa TV. They can glue their attention sa TV the
whole day,” President Duterte said during his weekly public address Monday
night.
“Pasensiya na po kayo. Mine is just a precaution.
Wala itong bisa… Takot lang ako kasi itong bagong strain strikes the young
children,” he added.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), fewer children have been sick with COVID-19 compared to
adults, but with the new strain’s characteristics, everyone is vulnerable.
Experts say children are superspreaders,
manifesting no symptoms although they carry the virus.
The restriction may not be welcomed by the parents
and children, but the President said sacrifices have to be made to protect
public health particularly as the country awaits a vaccine rollout.
And with the presence of the UK variant in the
Philippines, the President made a renewed appeal to the public to strictly follow
the government-mandated health protocols.
“I’d like to end by saying that the only
salvation, actually, for those who have not been sickened with COVID-19 and
pending the rollout of the vaccine is really that you follow the protocol of
--- imposed by government,” he said.
“Pagka sinunod ninyo ‘yan, then you have great
chances of not getting it or at least when you get it, there’s already the
bakuna, then it will somehow mitigate, give you the relief,” he added.
Also, during the meeting with the President,
vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. reported that the government may
proceed with the possible early rollout with vaccines coming from COVAX.
He previously reported that the government is also
set to receive its first delivery of COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese
pharmaceutical company Sinovac this February.
The Department of Health (DOH) has reported 1,581
additional coronavirus infections on Monday, bringing the total number of
confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country to 514,996.
There were 475,422 recoveries and 10,292 fatalities. PND
