As a precautionary measure against the United Kingdom (UK) variant of COVID-19, President Duterte has recalled the order of the government task force allowing children aged 10 to 14 to go outside their homes in areas under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
Duterte made the statement after the order of the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases easing the age restrictions in MGCQ areas met mixed reactions from the public.
In his taped public address aired on Monday night, President Duterte said he made the decision following the detection of COVID-19 UK cases in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
“I am compelled [to reverse it] — it has nothing to do with the incompetence, not at all,” he said.
“Ang akin (My decision) is a precaution because there is a strain discovered in the Cordillera that is very similar to the strain sa United Kingdom. How it got there is beyond me,” he added.
According to the President, he is scared about the news that the COVID-19 UK variant affects children, unlike the original SARS CoV2 strain as reported by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
“Takot lang ako. Because itong bagong strain strikes beyond children,” he said.
“It does not have any cut-off there. Just to be sure, and my desire to protect the people, napilitan ako na i-reimpose ‘yung 10-14 (I am forced to reverse the new order). Not at this time,” he added.
