Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 11) – With no face-to-face classes anytime soon, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Department of Education is allowing the use of public schools as quarantine facilities for a longer period of time.
“Dahil nga ang target natin ay minimum 10 ang ite-trace natin — at kung meron tayong 6,000 new cases, that means 60,000 (contacts) — gagamitin natin ang mga public school. Pumayag naman po si Secretary Leonor Briones na gamitin ang mga public schools hanggang December 31 ng taong ito,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in his Tuesday briefing.
[Translation: Since our target is to trace a minimum of 10 close contacts per patient — if we have, for example, 6,000 new cases, that means 60,000 (contacts) — we will use the public schools to isolate them. Secretary Leonor Briones agreed to use public schools until December 31 of this year.]
President Rodrigo Duterte canceled physical classes since early March shortly after the Department of Health confirmed local COVID-19 transmissions.
DepEd then allowed local governments to use public schools as quarantine sites for suspected COVID-19 patients, with the consent of regional heads and subject to terms and conditions.
Campuses have stayed shut for five months now, with DepEd pushing through with blended learning — which makes use virtual, radio, TV, and printed modules — for public elementary and high schools starting August 24.
DepEd initially wanted to resume school-based learning in low-risk areas, but Duterte decided to ban all face-to-face classes until a coronavirus vaccine is available to Filipinos.
Roque said classrooms will serve as quarantine centers as more people get tested for COVID-19. Separately, isolation czar and Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the government is preparing 300 more quarantine facilities which will have over 2,000 beds by the end of the month.
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