Minors can now enter malls in Metro Manila after the COVID-19 restriction in the region was lowered to Alert Level 2, according to the Department of Health on Friday.
At the press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said children can now visit the establishments and the malls.
“[N]akalagay po mismo sa resolution ng IATF, ano man pong edad na meron, maari na tayong pumunta dito sa mga establishments na ito,” Vergeire explained when asked if children can go to malls even if they have not been vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines.
“But the establishments have to enforce ‘yung 50% capacity indoors and 70% capacity outdoors… this will not differentiate between vaccinated and unvaccinated,” she explained.
“Kailangan lang ho namin ipagbigay alam at bigyan ng assurance ang ating mga kababayan, ang mga bata po kasi they are the least vulnerable… as long as we do the safety protocols, mothers will protect them. They are vaccinated,” she added.
On their respective Facebook pages, some malls announced that they were ready to accept the whole family, including children.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairperson Benhur Abalos called the day “very historic” to allow children to get out after nearly two years of staying in homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minors in NCR can now go to the mall
“This is very historic because after two years, ngayon lang makakalabas ang minors under Alert Level 2. Intrazonal and interzonal shall be allowed. That is a significant development here,” the official said.
But Abalos reminded, based on the resolution, minors must be with their parents when they go out.
Alert Level 2 was implemented in NCR starting this Friday and will last until November 21, 2021, so that experts can re-evaluate what will be alert restrictions in the region.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) clarified this Sunday that children could ride public vehicles, contrary to earlier statements by other officials.
The MMDA, on the other hand, is studying whether to implement the number coding or truck ban again, significantly as the number of vehicles on the road is gradually increasing and the holiday rush is already being felt.
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