IATF: Kids not allowed outdoors amid Delta variant threat

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for Emerging Infectious Diseases has decided to prohibit children from going outdoors once again due to the threat of the highly contagious Delta coronavirus variant.

IATF head and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the task force agreed to suspend its Resolution 125, which allowed kids aged 5 and above to go outdoors in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ. 

“Ang latest natin diyan ay hindi na muna natin papayagan sa ngayon [Our latest update is that kids are not allowed outdoors for now],” Duque said in a radio interview.

“Dahil nagkaroon na tayo ng Delta variant ay nagkaisa ang IATF na iatras muna itong resolution na ito [Because we detected the Delta variant, the IATF decided to put this resolution on hold)],” he added.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Duque said local government units still have the “final say” on what age group will be banned from going outdoors in their locality.

“Sila naman ang implementing unit... Nakalagay naman 'yan sa IATF Resolution 25, nakatakda doon na ang mga LGUs, may kapangyarihan para itaas 'yung edad depende sa COVID situation nila,” he said.

(They are the implementing unit. IATF Resolution 25 states that LGUs have the power to raise the age group [covered] depending on their COVID situation.)

The Department of Health on Thursday declared local transmission of the Delta variant on Thursday night. 

“Para lang makasiguro tayo, in a week or two, gumawa na naman tayo ng evaluation natin or assessment [at] kung makita naman na hindi naman patuloy na tumataas, lalo na sa NCR, baka pwedeng ibalik ‘yung Resolution 125,” Duque said.

(Just to be sure, in a week or two, we will conduct an evaluation or assessment. If cases will not go up, especially in NCR, maybe we can reinstate Resolution 125.)

Amid the local transmission of the Delta variant, Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Davao del Norte, and Davao de Oro were placed under GCQ with heightened restrictions from July 23 to 31. 

The Philippines has detected 47 Delta variant cases so far, eight of which remain active. — KBK/RSJ, GMA News