This December, minors can go out of the house, including trips to the mall, as long as they are accompanied by their parents, as quarantines remain in place for another month, an official overseeing the country's pandemic response said.
Mayors and local officials will issue ordinances on allowing minors outdoors, said Interior Sec. Eduardo Ano. Previously, only those aged 15 to 65 can leave the house.
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World leaders are faced with a tough balancing act: allowing millions to celebrate Christmas and other year-end religious holidays while keeping health protocols in place to prevent a spike in infections.
"Patuloy ang ating paghahanda sa ating mga health facilities kung sakaling magkaroon po tayo ng post-holiday surge," said Health Sec. Francisco Duque.
"Mas mainam po kung ito ay ating maiwasan kaya naman po hindi kami magsasawang magpapaalala sa lahat na hindi po tayo maaaring maging pabaya o maging mapagluwag or complacent kahit na po pababa ang ating mga kaso," he said.
Ano said Christmas parties and street carolling are banned. Family reunions can be "considered" as mass gatherings which are not allowed during the pandemic so this should be kept to immediate family members, he said.
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