“I’m calling back the order and I will not allow face-to-face classes for children until we are through with this,” said Duterte during a meeting with infectious disease experts, broadcasted online. “Wala pa tayong alam [We do not know anything yet]. I cannot take the risk.”
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 26) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday announced he is recalling his order that allowed trial of face-to-face classes, saying he does not want to risk endangering children after the discovery of a new COVID-19 variant in the United Kingdom.
Duterte called the meeting after news surfaced about the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 first detected in the United Kingdom, that already made its way to other countries such as Northern Ireland, Singapore and France. The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases earlier suspended all incoming flights from the UK from Dec. 24 until Dec. 31.
On the new coronavirus variant, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said there is still no evidence showing that it is more virulent or it can cause a more severe disease, compared to the first variant that entered the country. However, it has increased transmissibility, or it can spread more quickly, he said.
Infectious disease experts in the meeting stressed that minimum health standards such as washing hands and wearing face masks must be continuously followed. On the other hand, members of the IATF are still mulling added travel restrictions or, as the President mentioned, even a possible lockdown.
On Dec. 14, the President approved voluntary pilot implementation face-to-face classes in January for schools in areas identified as low risk for COVID-19.
Department of Education Secretary Leonor Briones, through a message read by Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, said she will implement the President’s new order to postpone the face-to-face classes scheme.
