Gov't eyes nationwide movement restriction for individuals unvaccinated vs. COVID-19

Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon of National Task Force Against COVID-19 has called for the nationwide implementation of the prohibition on unvaccinated people from going to public places amid the rising COVID-19 cases and emergence of the Omicron variant.

Dizon made the pitch during President Rodrigo Duterte's Talk to the People held Tuesday night but aired on Wednesday morning.

"They are locking down unvaccinated people in France, Germany, and even in South Korea. COVID-19 vaccine passes are being required to restrict the movement of the unvaccinated because of the situation," he said.

"The ones unvaccinated are those being hit badly by the new variants and the ones causing the healthcare systems to be congested. And because of that, they pose the greatest risk," Dizon added.

The Metro Manila Council, composed of mayors of cities and one municipality in the National Capital Region, earlier adopted a resolution banning individuals who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 in public places.

"Mr. President, we have been discussing this with [Interior and Local Government] Secretary [Eduardo] Año, [Health] Secretary [Francisco] Duque III, Secretary (vaccine czar) Carlito Galvez, [Defense] Secretary [Delfin] Lorenzana that we are recommending that this NCR policy also be adopted by the entire country even in areas where there is no surge because it is a matter of time before the Omicron variant spreads nationwide," Dizon added.

There are at least 50.6 million Filipinos who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 so far.

The COVID-19 positivity rate in the country, however, has zoomed to 26% mark as of January 4 from less than one percent in mid-December 2021. —KG, GMA News