Some pediatric and infectious disease experts are skeptical of allowing children aged 15 to 17 to go out.
Metro Manila mayors recommended earlier to allow minors 15 to 17 years old along with those aged 18 to 65 to go out.
For Philippine Pediatric Society fellow Dr. Cynthia Juico, children can still be considered “super spreaders.”
This is because their common symptoms of COVID-19 are usually coughs, colds, fever, and diarrhea.
In addition, he said, children need guidance to comply with minimum health standards.
“Ang mga bata kasi hindi nagsusuot ng mask, tinatanggal nila. 2 years and below bawal na bawal. Ang mga teenager naman, mag-uumpisa na naman silang magsasama-sama. Miss na nila iyon eh. Sino ba ang di nakaka-miss? Pero ang hirap. Ang pagkakasakit,” said Juico.
Under the current pandemic protocols, people between the ages of 15 and 65 can leave the Philippines.
This does not include Metro Manila, where local governments agreed to impose an 18-year to 65-year age limit in October.
For Rontgene Solante, an infectious disease expert, it is “too early” to consider the release of children 15 to 17.
Some doctors oppose proposal to allow 15-17-year-olds to go out
In an interview on Monday, Solante said that although studies show that teenagers are less likely to have COVID-19, he thinks it would be more dangerous to pair it with the opening of arcades and other recreational facilities.
In addition, he said, the threat of the virus is still there.
“Ang kaso natin it’s still 1,000 to 2,000 [araw-araw] . . . I think it’s too early to do this,” said Solante.
For Solante, it would be better to open schools if young people aged 15 to 17 are allowed to go out.
“Ang takeaway ko diyan if we allow these 15 to 17, eh ‘di kung ganun na lang magbukas ka ng schools para ma-kontrol ang kabataan,” said Solante.
Metro Manila Council chair Edwin Olivarez said Monday that mayors in the capital region now want to allow teenagers, ages 15 to 17, to go out of their homes.
The MMCA chair added allowing more teenagers would help to boost the economy provided that they would continue to observe COVID-19 protocols. However, he pointed out that it was “contradictory” to have gaming arcades open in malls but not allow the teens to go there.