The Department of Health (DOH) reminded parents that they still need to supervise their children to observe health protocols when going outdoors.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire made the statement as the government allowed children aged five years and up in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) and GCQ to go outdoors.
“Halimbawa (If), they will interact with other children, we must ensure that the caregiver or the parents are there to supervise this and that they would be wearing their mask at saka hindi sila magvi-violate ng safety protocols natin (and that they will not violate our other safety protocols),” said Vergeire during a televised briefing on Saturday, July 10.
“Kailangan may physical distancing pa rin, kailangan huwag pupunta sa matataong lugar (There must still be physical distancing and they should avoid crowded places),” she added.
Related story: Kids aged 5 and up allowed outdoors in GCQ, MGCQ areas
Vergeire noted that this policy does not mean that the transmission of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country is low.
“Ito ay pinayagan ng IATF (Interagency Task Force) not because of mababa ang transmission sa ating bansa. Ngunit kasi meron ng mga pag-aaral na apektado na ang ating kabataan dito pandemya at lockdown (This was allowed by the IATF not because of low transmission in our country. But because studies have shown that the pandemic and lockdown has already affected the youth),” she said.
“It is already affecting their physical and mental health and this is based on evidence already. Kaya itong ating binigay na rekomendasyon ay isang bagay na gradually gagawin natin so that we can be able to address itong mga issues na nangyayari ngayon sa ating mga kabataan (So this recommendation we have given is something that we will gradually do, so that we can be able to address these issues that are happening currently to our youth),” she added.