HEALTH experts in Pangasinan have joined hands in recommending to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) that children below 15 years old and adults from 66 years old and above should still be prevented from going out in public places, specifically, the malls, as they are still vulnerable to COVID-19 infection.

Dr. Arlene Pavo, president of the Pangasinan Medical Society submitted the recommendation which was endorsed by Dr. John Fernandez, Vice President for Northern Luzon of the Philippine Pediatric Society, and supported by Dr. Anna de Guzman, provincial health officer.

During the Question Hour of SP’s virtual session on December 14, Dr. Pavo pointed to the vulnerability for COVID-19 infection of children aged 14 years and below and adults from 66 years old and above.

“We still need to prevent them from going out of their respective houses,” Dr. Pavo said stressing that the same recommendation he said is shared by the Philippine Medical Association (PMA).

The SP invited the two top medical doctors for their opinion if there is a need to ease the community quarantine in Pangasinan in connection with its plan to enact a relevant provincial ordinance.

Last week, the national IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases) issued a new policy that allows children 15 years and above to enter shopping malls, provided they are accompanied by parents, and adults up to 65 years old, provided that the health and safety protocols are in place.

Dr. Pavo said that if children and adults are allowed into the malls, though accompanied by parents, there will be not just one but two or three that risk COVID-19 infection.

On the other hand, Dr. Fernandez said although COVID-19 infection is less common among pediatrics (one to 18 years old), they are still susceptible to infection.

“They (children) are primarily infected by close contact with people infected with the virus, And there are studies that show that children are capable of transmitting the virus to adults and fellow children,” Fernandez said.

“It is strongly recommended by pediatricians that children should remain in their homes to minimize the risk of getting infected and in order to lower viral transmission,” Fernandez told the SP as he underscored the need for parents to realize that the risk of acquiring COVID-19 far outweighs the benefit for children when they are brought to shopping malls.

For her part, Dr. De Guzman cited PHO records that show that 9% of the 2,500 plus COVID-19 cases in Pangasinan were from 66 years old and above, and 17 % were from 14 years and below, which proves that these ages are not immune from COVID-19.

She added that statistics show that the persons with moderate COVID-19 symptoms belong to the 66-year-old and up.

De Guzman informed the board members that two weeks ago, the number of active cases was already down to 130 but it increased to 214 last December 14. (Leonardo Micua)   

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