On Monday, DTI Secretary Mon Lopez defended the proposal allowing children to go out despite the pandemic, with the reason that it is important for “family bonding” and to raise spending.
“‘Yung easing of age restriction, this is really more for family bonding so hindi man eskwelahan, pero ito ‘yung family bonding na magkakasama ‘yung magulang at ‘yung kabataan,” said Lopez.
The secretary also wanted mayors in the National Capital Region to ease up the restriction with a condition that kids will be allowed to go out only if accompanied by parents.
“I am talking to the mayors, sila rin po, sinasabi nila na gusto rin nilang makabangon ‘yung ekonomiya dahil tumatama din sa kanila ito,” he added.
The UK variant of COVID-19 has already arrived in the country. As a result, several celebrities ridiculed the suggestion of the DTI secretary.
Pia Magalona ridiculed the plan of Lopez through her tweet wherein she said that she was not aware that humans are now capable of time-travelling—going back to days before coronavirus hit.
Hello, Mon Lopez!
I wasn’t aware we could travel back to the year 2019??? Where to score tickets?!! https://t.co/1bvLZjKDlP
— Pia Magalona ⁷ (@piamagalona) January 25, 2021
Actress Agot Isidro also criticized Lopez by emphasizing that the lockdown during March 2020 could have been enough for “family bonding”.
The Philippines has the longest lockdown period.
Even netizen @KatyYam ridiculed Lopez’s suggestion to ease the age restriction. The netizen raised a common question: What were the families doing in their homes during the lockdown?
https://twitter.com/KatyYam/status/1353627335770083328
Even CBS News journalist Barnaby Lo assured Lopez that the quarantine and lockdown made Filipino families closer. He also stressed out what is the most important objective that the government has to do—flatten the coronavirus curve.
Sir, let me assure you, sobrang close na kami sa isa’t isa for having stayed home the most in our lifetime. We don’t need bonding, we need the virus curve to flatten so our kids can safely go back to school. https://t.co/C7F1eN7RaC
— Barnaby Lo 吳宗鴻 (@barnabychuck) January 25, 2021
Meanwhile, former health adviser Dr. Tony Leachon reminded the secretary through his Twitter that the best and safest place for families to bond is at the comfort of their homes. He also emphasized that going outside with children in tow is not a good idea for they will be a walking virus spreader.
The best and safest place to have family bonding is at HOME. The worst place to stay is in the enclosed malls together with children acknowledged as super spreaders of old and new strain. Let’s not use family bonding as an excuse to perk up the economy. https://t.co/lZ2Rs2SQIs
— Tony Leachon MD (@DrTonyLeachon) January 25, 2021
Adding to the criticism he received, the majority of Metro Manila mayors also opposed his plan to ease the age restriction. This was revealed by Metro Manila Council (MMC) chairman and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.
“Do’n po sa amin pong consensus sa isang meeting po namin, halos lahat po kami ay hindi po sumasangayon yung relaxing this age bracket,” admitted Olivarez during an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.
The danger of letting kids go outside
Head of ABS-CBN Data Analytics Team Edson Guido posted on his Twitter account that Portugal, the country with the swiftest response on the coronavirus has now the world’s highest average of new cases and deaths per capita. He also stressed that despite new studies and vaccines against the virus, there is no assurance that it is gone. Therefore, people should be vigilant and alert when it comes to this deadly virus.
Let's look at PORTUGAL, a country praised for its swift response to the first wave as you can see in this chart.
Now? Portugal is reporting the world’s HIGHEST 7-day average of new cases and deaths per capita.
This is why we can't drop our guard.
The virus has not gone away. pic.twitter.com/TwlRbBuZcN— Edson C. Guido (@EdsonCGuido) January 25, 2021
Moreover, studies show that children are more prone to getting the virus rather than adults. According to Forbes, a Chicago study published by Jama Network explained that children age 5 to younger who have mild to moderate Covid symptoms have 10 to 100 times as much SARS-CoV-2 in the nasopharynx as older children and adults. Meanwhile, those 5 to 17 year-old participants have the same amount of virus in the nasopharynx as adults age 18 and above.
With them having this kind of rate in their bodies, it is more likely that children and young teens have the potential to spread the virus faster than any adult.
Adding to that, the study also stressed the easement of public health restrictions and that children should be given priority to make themselves immune against the new and old variants of Covid-19.
“Behavioral habits of young children and close quarters in school and day care settings raise concern for SARS-CoV-2 amplification in this population as public health restrictions are eased. In addition to public health implications, this population will be important for targeting immunization efforts as SARS-CoV-2 vaccines become available,” the study stated.
With this, children’s safety is of importance. Their body, which is like a walking target for the virus should not be allowed to go out just yet. Making them leave the safety of their home and explore the virus-infested outside world would only result to having no place to be deemed as safe. If adults are prone of getting infected by the virus, children are more at risk.
