Stay-at-home order for elderly amid COVID-19 pandemic backed by science -Palace

Malacañang on Tuesday defended the government’s stay-at-home order for senior citizens to avoid catching COVID-19, saying the mortality rate is high among elderly patients.

The government prohibits persons below 21 years old and those who are 60 years old and above from leaving their homes except for accessing necessities and reporting for work — a rule challenged by a group of jeepney drivers and a senior citizen before the Supreme Court (SC) for being “cruel and inhuman.”

“The IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] cannot be bothered by this suit,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said at a televised briefing.

“Karapatan niya iyan, pero naninindigan po ang IATF na iyong prohibition po sa galaw ng mga seniors is borne by science and medicine. Sa buong daigdig po, ang mga tinatamaan at namamatay sa COVID-19 ay ang mga seniors at mayroong comorbidities, and that is a scientific fact,” he added.

A former trial attorney, Roque expressed confidence that the petition will not prosper.

“Tingin ko po ay wala pong mangyayari diyan dahil isa sa acknowledged powers of the state is the power of police power. At ang basehan po sa pag-exercise ng police power ay iyong pangalagaan ang kalusugan mismo ng mga seniors,” he said.

“So to the petitioner, ito pong pagbabawal sa inyong movement outside of your residence except for work and to procure necessities is for your own benefit.”

The SC earlier dismissed the petition questioning the constitutionality of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which gave President Rodrigo Duterte special powers to address the COVID-19 crisis.

The high court had also junked a petition asking the tribunal to compel the government to conduct proactive mass testing for COVID-19, efficient contact tracing and isolation, and effective treatment of cases. -MDM, GMA News