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DOH chief: Opening of classes in August safe if minimum health standards will be followed
By DONA MAGSINO, GMA News The opening of classes in August would be safe if the education sector and other stakeholders will ensure that minimum health standards would be followed, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Tuesday.
"Pag-aaralan po natin maigi ito pero sa ngayon po tingin namin ay ligtas naman po kung bubuksan natin ang klase by August 24," Duque said during a hearing conducted by the Senate committee on health.
"Ang kinakailangan lang po dito siguraduhin lamang ang lahat ng ating minimum standards for health ay nakatalaga. Ito po 'yung physical distancing, frequent washing of the hands, disinfection ng mga silid-aralan, at sinisiguro na ang alcohol, sanitizers andiyan din po," he added.
Implementation of protocols on health screening of those who will attend classes and dissemination advisories to parents on how to handle their children who are feeling ill would also help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in schools, according to the Cabinet official.
He said these non-pharmaceutical measures along with the plan of the Department of Education to safely deliver lessons in blended platforms would complement each other.
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President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night said classes should remain suspended until a vaccine for COVID-19 is made available.
“I will not allow the opening of classes na magdikit dikit ‘yang mga bata. Bahala nang hindi na makatapos. For this generation walang makatapos na doktor pati engineer,” he said.
“Wala nang aral, laro na lang unless I am sure that they are really safe. It’s useless to be talking about the opening of classes. Para sa akin, bakuna muna,” he added.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said a measure is being prepared in the Senate to allow the opening of classes beyond August.—AOL, GMA News