Total lockdown: Children 12 and under barred from public areas

 

Children aged 12 and below have been barred from public areas during the total lockdown, with four exceptions.

The exceptions are for seeking treatment, education, exercise or in the event of emergencies.

“Children aged 12 and below are not allowed to be in public areas and public transport except for emergencies, treatment, education and exercise,” read a section of the latest standard operating procedures (SOPs).  

This is a marked difference from the SOPs for previous movement control orders, which discouraged children from being in crowded places but did not impose restrictions.

The full SOPs were published by the National Security Council (NSC) today.

They take effect from today (June 1) onwards.

During the total lockdown, scheduled for two weeks until June 14, most schools must close.

Only international school students and foreign students who are facing international examinations are allowed to sit for their tests as per schedule.

Child care centres also must close, unless they care for children of frontliners or if both parents have to work during the lockdown.

A total of 54,939 infants and children aged 12 and below have contracted Covid-19 between Jan 25 and May 30.

According to data shared by Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, babies and toddlers under the age of four accounted for 19,851 cases.

Children between the ages of five and six accounted for 8,237 cases, while primary school-going children (between seven and 12) made up 26,851.

 - Mkini