Order allows elderly, minors 

To go off HQ on certain days 

CORTES, Bohol, May 1(PIA)—Finally, for the first time, senior citizens and minors or at least those below 20 years old may now be able to go out of home quarantine (HQ) on certain days starting Monday, May 4, 2020. 

Executive Order No 28, which Governor Arthur Yap signed April 29, made sure of this as this officially amends an earlier anti coronavirus disease (COVID) policy in Executive Order No. 16, which in itself has also been amended a few days after it came out March 21, 2020. 

Executive Order No. 16, or the order imposing as 24 hour curfew on all 65 years-old and above residents or Bohol and those below 18 years old, mandating them to stay at home to shield them from the effects of COVID. 

Studies relating to corona virus have proved that the elderly as well as minors own a high susceptibility to catching the virus: the elderly often succumbing to the disease owing to their weakened disease resistance and the minors for their capacity to spread the virus faster as carriers. 

However, a few days after Executive Order No 16 came out, authorities noted that farmers, several of them over 65 and minors below 18 are actively engaged in farming or fishing, and the move to strictly detain them in their houses would dent largely on the province’s food production. 

Because of this, Executive Order 16-A came out to exempt from home quarantine, the 65 years old and above as well as the 18 and below who are actively engaged in farming or fishing. 

While the executive orders got implemented, several elderly persons have appealed to authorities to let them go out for certain important functions. 

Reports gathered showed that several senior citizens need to do bank appearances, which require their physical, and a good number of senior citizens trying to extend the purchasing power of their little pension in the discounts allotted for them in groceries, which also need personal appearances. 

Still a lot more senior citizens said they have remained strong because they never fail to do daily exercises, most of them by walking, which unfortunately stopped with the province-wide curfew order. 

For these, Section 3 of Executive Order No. 28 proposes yet another amendment to Executive Order No. 16 and 16-A. 

The modification states that all senior citizens 65 years old and above shall be allowed to go out on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, states the new order from the governor. 

For minors, the order says they will be allowed to go out on Mondays and Fridays from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, but they have to be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians. 

The order also explicitly said these parents or guardians accompanying minors when going out, must not be 65 years old and above. 

Moreover, the Executive Order said in no case shall persons 65 years old and above, as well as minors be allowed on Saturdays and Sundays. 

The privilege however is only until May 31, or otherwise when the order gets rescinded before that date. (rahchiu/PIA-7/Bohol) 

UNLESS ITS IMPORTANT. Gov Arthur Yap may have allowed the elderly and minors to go off home quarantine for certain days of the week, the EO however is not an express permission for subject persons to just go out and loiter. (rahchiu/PIABohol/RVO foto)