The number of children infected with COVID-19 in Quezon City has almost quadrupled in just a month after 318 minors were reported to have caught the disease from August 1 to 7.
Data from the City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU) showed that 169 children aged 0 to 11 were infected while 149 children aged 12 to 17 got the virus, which means that nine percent of the city's total cases during the same period were children.
The local government said its recent total number of COVID-19 cases involving children is 293 percent higher than last month. From July 1 to July 7, only 81 children turned out positive for the virus.
CESU chief Dr. Rolando Cruz said "one factor that causes these infections...could be the improper way by which COVID-19 positive adults quarantine themselves."
Cruz said, these adults were the ones who stay-at-home despite manifesting COVID-19 symptoms and "do not self-report to CESU."
Recently, the local government issued guidelines prohibiting home quarantine for COVID-19 cases and symptomatic close-contacts and requiring them to be transferred to accredited quarantine facilities, such as HOPE community caring facilities and barangay isolation facilities.
Cruz assured the city residents that the local government continues to ramp up its contact tracing efforts "so every household will be safe, especially young children who are not yet able to follow minimum health protocols on their own."
“But ultimately, we need everyone’s cooperation. We are appealing to anyone who is experiencing symptoms to please inform CESU immediately,” he added.