Manila locks down minors starting Wednesday.

[Old55]

Manila orders anyone below 18 to stay indoors as virus cases surge

 

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippine capital Manila will widen a ban on minors leaving their residences to include youths of up to 18 years old for two weeks starting on Wednesday, tightening coronavirus restrictions in a bid to tackle a new surge of infections.

Only those aged 18-65 years old will be allowed out of their homes, the Metro Manila Development Authority said in a statement, citing an agreement among mayors.

The Philippines late last year started easing one of the world's longest and strictest lockdowns though a rule that anyone under 15 must stay indoors in Manila remained in place.

The Southeast Asian country has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases this month, recording the largest daily increase since mid-August on Monday with 5,404 new infections.

Nighttime curfews have been reimposed since Monday for two weeks in Metropolitan Manila, the country's coronavirus hotspot that is home to more than 12 million people.

Additional measures such as liquor bans and localised lockdowns in areas with high infection rates have also been put in place.

The extended age limit comes five months after authorities allowed people from 15 to 65 years of age to go out as part of efforts to revive an economy that suffered the worst slump on record last year.

Facing criticisms about a slow-moving vaccination drive, coronavirus strategy chief Carlito Galvez said more doses should arrive soon.

Nearly 2.4 million doses are expected by early April, comprising 979,200 doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine through the COVAX facility and 1.4 million Sinovac shots including 400,000 donated by China, he said.

Galvez said there was no plan to halt the use of AstraZeneca's vaccine to inoculate healthcare workers, even though several European countries have paused administering it after reports of possible serious side-effects.

The government has also signed an agreement with the Serum Institute of India for 30 million Novavax vaccine doses, due to arrive in the third or fourth quarter of the year, said Galvez.

 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/manila-orders-anyone-below-18-062126068.html

Edited March 18, 2021 by Old55

[graham59]

I'm sure the expert Generals running the country know what they're doing.  

[Jack Peterson]

31 minutes ago, graham59 said:

I'm sure the expert Generals running the country know what they're doing.  

 They will round them up in the end as they did when the Pope Visited and cage them, it will be the only way Bad But......................

[JJReyes]

Strange.  In the United States, to reopen schools, they want teachers, custodians, administrators, bus drivers, etc. to get vaccinated.  Middle and High School students are much lower priority.  The earliest this group will get the vaccine is in the Fall.  They have just started safety and efficacy trials on 12 years old and younger (4 months old).  The vaccination for the younger ones will most likely start in 2022.   Reason for all this is because the 16 years and under population appears to be less vulnerable to Covid-19.  While in the Philippines, you lock-up at home the younger groups.  Maybe they will spend more time studying.  Oops.  I forgot.  No tablets and internet connectivity for public school students.  

[Old55]

My youngest son is still in public school. Next week they have a choice, continue to learn from home or a hybrid that includes two days in classroom. Majority are choosing to remote learn. Our guess is this summer enough will be vaccinated to be relatively safe returning to "normal". New normal will include masks in many cases.

[Jollygoodfellow]

I dont think the 15 to 18 age bracket has ever been a problem so why lock them up now?

March the 16th this lockdown crap started a year ago in Cebu and what's changed in a year.

[Old55]

1 minute ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

I dont think the 15 to 18 age bracket has ever been a problem so why lock them up now?

March the 16th this lockdown crap started a year ago in Cebu and what's changed in a year.

What will change over the next year? Around 3 million vaccines available in several months. Maybe 20 million more announced for late this year or early next year. Government leaders and the ruling family's likely have their dose by now so who cares about the regular Filipinos? 

[Mike J]

19 hours ago, Old55 said:

The government has also signed an agreement with the Serum Institute of India for 30 million Novavax vaccine doses, due to arrive in the third or fourth quarter of the year, said Galvez.

So in about a year maybe 15 or 20 percent (takes two shots) of the population will be vaccinated? 

[hk blues]

9 hours ago, Old55 said:

My youngest son is still in public school. Next week they have a choice, continue to learn from home or a hybrid that includes two days in classroom. Majority are choosing to remote learn. Our guess is this summer enough will be vaccinated to be relatively safe returning to "normal". New normal will include masks in many cases.

My son's in private and they are sticking with the online format only for now.  I wonder what the thinking is in the hybrid model - wouldn't it be better all or nothing?  You are as likely to catch it in 2 days as 5 maybe? 

The remote format is convenient but it does reduce interaction and I think that's important for kids so I'm on the fence about going back to physical lessons.  

[fred]

Poor kids.. Missing out on the very best years of their young lives. So F@..n SAD.