COVID-19 testing for learners, teachers part of DepEd's learning continuity plan —official

The Department of Education (DepEd) is also eyeing to test its stakeholders to ensure that the opening of classes for the upcoming school year will be safe from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

"We have to ensure the safety of our teachers and learners. Kung mayroong mga magkakaroon ng physical exposure to each other ay hindi lamang siguro magiging sapat under this circumstances 'yung social distancing, may element din dapat ng testing," DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

This was after Senator Sherwin Gatchalian called for the mass testing of learners, teachers, and other school personnel to ensure that schools would not be COVID-19 hotspots once classes open.

Malaluan, however, said the scope of the proposed mass testing is yet to be discussed.

"Talagang 'yung testing ay isa sa mga intervention but it does not mean that we have to test all... Kung ano 'yung saklaw ng testing na ‘yan will have to be discussed and consulted also with the Department of Health pero kasama 'yan sa learning continuity plan natin," he said.

Further, he said that school facilities which have been converted to quarantine centers will have to be disinfected first before it can be used by students again.

There are over 27 million students and more than 800,000 teachers in the Philippines, according to the DepEd.

Consultations with stakeholders are still ongoing to determine the schedule of the opening of classes, considering the COVID-19 situation in the country.

As of April 20, the Philippines recorded a total of 6,459 cases of COVID-19, with 613 recoveries and 428 deaths.—AOL, GMA News