There will be exemptions for seniors under GCQ: Año

April 30, 2020

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Thursday said there will be exemptions for senior citizens, especially those who are working and living alone, under the general community quarantine (GCQ).

"Under GCQ, we will ease a bit… first of all, we need to know that 60 years old and up are vulnerable persons… if we look worldwide, most of the infected persons under this age died… but we understand the situation of our seniors because some of them are still working and some are living alone,” Año said in a radio interview.

“So there will be exemptions… those seniors who are still working, they will be allowed to go out,” he added.

Año reminded senior citizens they should be healthy enough to go out and not pose risks to other people’s health.

“They can buy food, medicine, essentials… and if the malls are open on areas under GCQ, they will be allowed to enter. We will just ask (mall management) to have minimum health standards, special lanes at accommodation for our seniors, social distancing, hand sanitazion and give them priority,” Año said.

“They should not have health issues because it’s hard… so they should be clean bill of health… and if you don’t have anything to do, stay at home… there’s no need to lie on your health (records),” he said.

On Thursday, Malacanang said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) may look into proposal to come up with some exceptions for senior citizens to go out despite quarantine measures amid the coronavirus disease pandemic.

Senior citizens are among those classified as vulnerable sectors to COVID-19 infection.

President Rodrigo Duterte, following the recommendation of the IATF, has extended the ECQ in some areas until May 15 due to high number of COVID-19 cases.

According to  Año, Malacanang is set to release the final list of areas that will be under ECQ.  Ella Dionisio/DMS