The Philippines logged more than 30,000 new COVID-19 infections weeks after a local case of Omicron variant was detected.
To address the rising number of cases, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered local officials to limit the movement of unvaccinated persons and allowed authorities to arrest those who will refuse to cooperate. Officials claim the President’s order was meant to protect public health and to prevent the further spread of the virus.
They noted that vaccines have been proven to be effective in preventing hospitalization and COVID-related deaths. However, some claim the policy violates human rights and discriminates against those who refuse to get vaccinated.
With this, the Flame asks: Should the government restrict the movement of persons who are not yet inoculated against COVID-19? How can the government strike a balance between containing the pandemic and respecting the rights of those who refuse to get jabbed for one reason or another?
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