Persons aged 10 to 65 can go out of their homes starting February 1 in areas that are under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque announced today, January 22.
Negros Occidental and Bacolod City are currently under MGCQ and may remain under the same quarantine status in February.
Bacolod vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said the city government will comply with the new guidelines but reiterated the need to strictly observe minimum health protocols.
Some children have been seen outside their home without face masks and shields, he said, stressing that their parents should ensure that they observe the COVID-19 health protocols for their own safety and to prevent the spread of the virus.
Minors who go to public places, like malls, should be accompanied by their parents, he also said.
The lowering of the age of persons allowed to go out of their homes to 10 years old is contained in the amended guidelines on the implementation of community quarantine in the Philippines approved by the national Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on Thursday, January 21.
The amended guidelines state that under MGCQ, any person below 10 years old and over 65 years old, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, and other health risks, and pregnant women shall be required to stay in their residences at all times.*