Spox Roque defends allowing kids 10 to 65 outdoors

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque defended the government's decision to ease age restrictions in modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) areas, stating it would benefit children's well-being.

Starting February 1, individuals aged 10 to 65 years old will be allowed to go out, a change from the previous 15 to 65 age range.

Roque argued that allowing children, who have been indoors for ten months, to engage in outdoor activities like weekend outings is crucial for their physical, social, and mental health.

He explained that allowing children to go to malls differs from face-to-face classes due to the nature, intensity, and proximity of interactions.

Roque highlighted that physical distancing is challenging in classrooms due to the number of students and the size of the rooms, posing a higher risk of infection compared to brief outings.