By Alec Go
The Department of Health (DOH) appealed on Saturday (Nov. 6) to guardians of minors to avoid bringing their children to high risk areas amid Metro Manila’s shift to a more relaxed Alert Level 2.
Under the current alert level, children in the National Capital Region (NCR) are permitted to go out as more establishments expand their operating capacity.
“Kapag nakikita natin na hindi pabor para sa ating mga kabataan ang pagpunta sa isang lugar katulad ng matataong lugar o ‘di kaya mayroong probability of being in close contact/interaction with people, huwag na nating isama,” DOH USec. Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an online briefing.
Vergeire said allowing minors to leave their residences was discussed by experts, noting that children have “the least risk of getting infected and getting hospitalized because of COVID-19.”
She said safeguards are “in place” in the easing of restrictions, but reminded local government units to continue intensifying COVID-19 measures and for the public to comply with health standards for the further opening of more sectors.
The DOH said there is no cause for concern in terms of hospital occupancy as patient admission in hospitals is declining for COVID-19 cases, while the occupancy for non-COVID beds is “stable.”
“It will all depend on how all of us will try to cooperate so that we can be able to sustain ito pong ating pagbaba ng kaso dito sa NCR and even in the whole country,” she said. -rir
