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No house arrest: Gov't says senior citizens can leave their homes during general quarantine

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Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/03/20/covid-lockdown-paligsahan-fsj-20200319.jpg"/><figcaption>A local resident of a depressed community in Barangay Paligsahan, Quezon City receives relief goods from barangay officers on March 19, 2020. Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA- The government will not place elderly Filipinos under house arrest in areas that will shift to a &quot;new normal&quot; on Friday, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Thursday.Lopez, in a message read by Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, said senior citizens may be allowed to leave their homes in areas that will shift to a general community quarantine.&quot;IATF is not insisting that seniors are under house arrest or will be house arrest,&quot; Lopez said, referring to the government&#x27;s inter-agency task force which formulates policies on the country&#x27;s response to the coronavirus pandemic.&quot;This is just an overall policy presented to us due to vulnerability of the age segment especially during the quarantine period,&quot; he added.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/04/30/20/hindi-pa-laos-govt-urged-to-let-fit-senior-citizens-leave-homes-during-relaxed-lockdown">&#x27;Hindi pa laos&#x27;: Gov&#x27;t urged to let fit senior citizens leave homes during relaxed lockdown</a></li></ul>The government&#x27;s pandemic task force earlier recommended that those aged 0 to 21, and those 60 years old and above should stay home even as parts of the country shift to a general community quarantine from an enhanced community quarantine.Lopez said the elderly who are actively working or running businesses can leave their homes. Authorities will use an &quot;ID system,&quot; he said.Other senior citizens who need to buy food, supplies, medicine, and ask government assistance can also go out of their houses, the trade chief added.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/03/27/20/how-to-take-care-of-our-senior-citizens-and-what-to-do-if-they-get-infected-with-covid-19">How to take care of our senior citizens and what to do if they get infected with COVID-19</a></li></ul>Several areas will shift to a &quot;new normal&quot; starting Friday as the government eases lockdown measures even as the coronavirus crisis persists.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/28/20/list-areas-under-enhanced-community-quarantine-until-may-15">PH revises coverage of enhanced community quarantine until May 15</a></li></ul>

The government will not place elderly Filipinos under house arrest in areas that will shift to a "new normal" on Friday, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Thursday.

The government will not place elderly Filipinos under house arrest in areas that will shift to a "new normal" on Friday, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Thursday.

No house arrest: Gov't says senior citizens can leave their homes during general quarantine

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No house arrest: Gov't says senior citizens can leave their homes during general quarantine

Arianne Merez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 30, 2020 12:00 PM PHT

Read More:

senior citizens GCQ

general community quarantine

lockdown

IATF

coronavirus

COVID-19

pandemic

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