(File photo)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The city's task force on coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has recalled its order allowing children aged five years old and above outdoors.
Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar on Monday said the recall of Executive Order (EO) No. 667-2021 is in compliance with the National Inter-Agency Task for on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) decision suspending its resolution allowing children five years old and above to go outdoors amid the threat pose by the Covid-19’s Delta variant in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions.
This is despite Zamboanga City being under regular GCQ until July 31.
Salazar, who chairs the local task force, said EO 667-2021 is recalled effective Monday.
The local task force earlier issued EO No. 667-2021 on July 12 allowing children ages five to 11 years old in outdoor areas only on weekends provided they are supervised by adults and compliant with the minimum health standards.
The same EO allowed people aged 12 to 17 years old to go outdoor areas from Monday to Sunday, provided they too are supervised by adults and compliant with the minimum health standards.
Under the same order, outdoor areas and activities are limited to parks, playgrounds, beaches and resorts, biking and hiking trails, outdoor tourist sites and attractions, and outdoor non-contact sports and venues.
“We need to remain vigilant in the fight against Covid-19 in view of the threat of the Delta variant, a more transmissible strain that has been detected in other parts of the country,” Salazar said.
The mayor said strict enforcement of quarantine measures and minimum public health standards will continue, as this city strengthens its Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate (PDITR) strategy to fight against the highly transmissible Delta variant.
Security forces have been ordered to strengthen border control, both in land and sea, to prevent the entry here of the Delta variant.
The Delta variant, which was first detected in India, is now present in 124 countries according to the World Health Organization (WHO). (PNA)
