Zamboanga City bucks children in malls

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The city government of Zamboanga has opposed a proposal of the government to allow children to go to malls and other public places as long as they are accompanied by their parents.

City officials and health authorities also rejected the possibility of allowing face-to-face classes as part of the “new normal.”

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar expressed disapproval, citing observations by health officials on the possible rise of coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 cases should the proposal be allowed.

“It is still not safe to allow children to go out except for medical reasons or emergency cases,” Salazar said yesterday.

City health officer Dulce Amor Miravite said children should remain at home because they are susceptible to infection.

Miravite cited experts’ findings showing children have higher viral load and may become “super spreader” of COVID-19.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said the proposal to allow children to go out would depend on the discretion of local government units.

Salazar and Miravite expressed belief that it is not yet time for the Department of Education to consider the return of face-to-face classes, citing the prevailing COVID situation in the city and other areas in Zamboanga peninsula.

Lockdown

The municipality of Tinglayan in Kalinga is on lockdown until Dec. 21 due to rising COVID cases.

Mayor Sacrament Gumilab on Sunday placed the town under enhanced community quarantine after a surge of COVID cases were reported in four villages in Bangad district and in Barangay Poblacion.

Some key officials and employees of the municipal government contracted the virus, Gumilab said.

Tinglayan has 98 reported cases since Nov. 16.

The lockdown is expected to prevent, contain and eliminate the spread of the virus as well as hasten the process of contact tracing.

Suicide

In Luna, Isabela, a 39-year-old sales agent reportedly killed himself after finding out that he had tested positive for COVID-19.

Luna Mayor Jaime Atayde said the patient escaped from a quarantine facility on Friday and was found hanging from a tree in Barangay Mambabanga on Sunday morning.

The patient was brought to the facility last week after experiencing fever, colds, cough and sore throat.

The municipal health office said the patient had traveled to Ilagan City, which has a high number of COVID cases.

The patient is the town’s 41st COVID case. – Artemio Dumlao, Raymund Catindig