Education official tested positive for COVID-19, says DepEd

A school divisions officer has tested positive for coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Education said Friday.

In a statement, the DepEd said one of its officers in Mandaluyong City tested positive for the new coronavirus last Wednesday, March 25, and has since been confined in a hospital.

“The patient is confined at a hospital and is recovering. Our field units have provided assistance for his hospitalization,” the DepEd said.

Likewise, the DepEd said the patient visited some competition events at the National Festival of Talents (NFOT) in Iligan.

On March 9, the patient went to Tuguegarao City to attend a national education conference. 

DepEd assured the public that it has checked on the said patient’s colleagues with whom he had close contact prior to hospitalization, and had placed the delegates of NFOT as well as National Schools Press Conference under home quarantine even before the said official tested positive for COVID-19.

“We have coordinated with the DOH and no less than the Secretary of Health has instructed his staff to do an extensive contact tracing as it is still an imperative for an effective containment. The DOH will oversee the contact tracing and notification within and outside DepEd following their protocols,” the DepEd said.

“We are nearing the tail-end of the precautionary home quarantine, and overall we have monitored a small number of participants that were classified as PUIs but there is no link that can be established to the patient from Mandaluyong. We fully understand the seriousness of the situation, and our Department is taking the necessary steps for the safety of our learners , teachers, and the public,” the DepEd added. —Llanesca T. Panti/LBG, GMA News