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Lockdown Alert Level 3: Happy New Year?

What a way to start the new year with Lockdown Alert Level 3 to force our kids back inside.

Once at 2-3 cases of the Omicron variant, we’re now stuck with another potential lockdown at Lockdown Alert Level 3 because of the sudden spike in COVID cases due to the Omicron variant. From the hundreds, it spiked up to thousands now hitting a whopping 3,617 cases. Our kids will need to go back inside much to our dismay but it’s for their safety. We’re aware that Omicron is more infectious but do we really want to dash our kids’ hopes of being able to go out again? Unfortunately, we might have to do so for their sake and safety.

How in the world did this happen?

The story supposedly begins with Gwyneth Chua, who returned from the United States. She checked in last December 22, 2022, in Berjaya Hotel but manages to break quarantine on December 23. While the hotel already issued a statement of apology, the damage has already been done. The 15 people she met up with all tested positive for the Omicron variant.

She partied in a bar in Poblacion on December 27, 2022, making the netizens crown her as the “Poblacion Girl”, and infected 15 other people. Right now, the net’s in an uproar and demanding a witchhunt for said girl. Whereas, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is planning to push charges against her while using the TikTok and Instagram posts she used to document her partying against her as evidence.

How did she manage to jump quarantine?

According to DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, she disclosed in an interview on December 30, 2021, that the girl was boasting of her connections. She added during the interview that Gwyneth Chua allegedly told her friends that her “connections” are what allowed her to break quarantine protocols. Unfortunately, her jumping quarantine was soon linked to the spike in cases. It’s a pretty good reminder for us to remind our teens to follow the rules. Every act has a consequence after all and this one just happened to have a very heavy consequence.

What can our kids do now in Lockdown Alert Level 3?

Unfortunately, we’ll have to keep our kids back inside especially if they haven’t been vaccinated or boosted. Although the DOH has released a memo that adults can get boosted after 3 months, our kids are still vulnerable. For now, it’s going to be another 13 days for our kids to stay inside since it’s from January 3, 2022, to January 15, 2022. Boost everyone’s immune systems, make sure you only go out for essentials, and most of all — if you have celebrations, consider making it online to keep the spread to a minimum.

Looking for more COVID news? Here’s some!

Paxlovid: 3 Things to Know About Pfizer’s Promising COVID-19 Pill
Will the Omicron Variant affect our kids? Here’s what we know
COVID-19 Vaccination for Kids: Here’s How to Register

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