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The government has eased travel and age restrictions imposed to prevent transmission of the coronavirus in the country as it moves to reopen the economy.
According to the Palace spokesman, Harry Roque Jr., the Interagency Working Group for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) approved during its meeting on Thursday the recommendation of the economic cluster to expand the age group of people who can leave their houses.
According to an IATF-EID resolution issued, people between the ages of 15 and 65 are now allowed to leave.
Local government units (LGUs) may impose a higher age limit for minors, depending on the Covid-19 situation in their area, according to Roque.
Under the previous IATF-EID policy, people under the age of 21 and over the age of 60 were prohibited from leaving their residences, unless for work or necessity reasons.
The task force also relaxed travel restrictions by allowing people, including those not listed as authorized persons outside their residences (APOR), to travel between areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified general community quarantine (MGCQ). .
“The interzonal movement of unauthorized persons out of residences between areas located under GCQ and MGCQ for any purpose will be permitted subject to reasonable regulations imposed by the LGU in question,” the resolution said.
LGUs can also exempt workers, APOR, and necessary establishments from curfews.
The task force also lifted the restriction on non-essential outbound travel for Filipinos as of October 21.
Roque said Filipinos can leave the country as long as they present confirmed round-trip tickets and adequate travel and medical insurance for those traveling on tourist visas.
They must also sign an immigration statement acknowledging the risks involved in travel and a negative antigen test result taken within 24 hours of departure.
The relaxed restrictions are among the measures the Cabinet approved last Monday to reactivate the economy. It also facilitated the one-seat distance policy in public transport to increase the number of passengers, among others.
Non-leisure businesses within shopping centers and malls can now fully operate as well.
Non-leisure wholesale and retail establishments were also given the green light, such as:
– Hardware stores
– Clothes and accessories
– Bookstores and stores of school and office supplies
– Baby or infant care supply stores
– Pet stores, pet food and pet care supplies.
– Information technology, communications and electronic equipment
– Florists, jewelry, novelties, antiques, perfumeries; toy stores (playgrounds and entertainment area will be closed)
– Music stores; art galleries (sale only)
– Firearms and ammunition shops.
In early October, the Department of Commerce and Industry (DTI) also gave the green light to a number of businesses in areas under GCQ to operate at full capacity, including national mining and quarries; management consulting activities; publishing and printing services; film, music and television production; recruitment and placement agencies for jobs abroad; and the retail trade of motor vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles.
With reports from MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO
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