THE Philippine National Police were ordered to ensure children remain indoors because of the threat of the highly contagious Covid-19 Delta variant.
PNP chief General Guillermo Eleazar gave the order to police commanders to ensure that children five years old and above in their areas of jurisdiction remain indoors, according to the Philstar.com portal.
The Department of Health confirmed that there is already local transmission of the Delta variant, the same strain which overwhelmed other countries such as India and Indonesia, earlier in the week.
Police officers should initiate measures to ensure the implementation of safety guidelines against Covid-19, he stressed.
Eleazar appealed for understanding from parents after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) prohibited children, aged five and above, from going outdoors.
"As parents, I know you are aware of the saying, 'I would want to be the one getting sick rather than my child,'" Eleazar said in a statement.
Eleazar asked parents to keep a close watch on their children as he reminded them they could be super spreaders if they are exposed to the virus.
"Us parents are responsible for the safety of our children. That's why I hope we follow the rules that disallows them from going outside of the house," he added.