DepEd to investigate face mask-sharing incident in Camarines Norte school

The Department of Education (DepEd) said Wednesday it will investigate an incident in an elementary school in Daet, Camarines Norte where students shared only one face mask during a graduation pictorial  amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement, the DepEd said it has received the incident report which concerned a breach of minimum health standards and social distancing protocols that happened in Brgy. Dogongan last June 11, 2020.

"We take this matter seriously and will have a firm and rectifying action to prevent further breach in the future," DepEd said.

"We have started our fact-finding investigation through a Division Investigation Committee (DIC) formed by DepEd Region V. We have also asked the person involved in the breach to submit a written explanation while the local DepEd COVID-19 Task Force will actively monitor the health of the learners concerned through the regional office," it added.

In a video that went viral on social media, a teacher was seen putting the same face mask to students during their graduation pictorial.

DepEd said it has coordinated the incident with the Barangay Health Response and Emergency Team (BHRET) and the local government unit in conducting initial precautionary measures and in resolving the incident "at the soonest possible time."

"We would like to reiterate that graduation and moving up rites that require face-to-face interaction are postponed until further notice. Schools and community learning centers are highly encouraged to conduct virtual rites and other alternative non face-to-face activities to celebrate the end of the school year," the department said.

Schools that have yet to conduct their end of school year rites must submit to the Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) for approval their proposed process for e-graduation rites, before conducting the event, DepEd noted.

DepEd further said activities that may require face-to-face interaction and allowed through DepEd and IATF guidelines may be conducted only "if the necessary health and safety precautions are strictly complied with, subject to the guidelines set for the community quarantine classification of the locality."

The department also said it will continue to conduct seminars for teachers and stakeholders on preventive and precautionary measures to be observed in DepEd schools and offices.

"We direct all our units, and appeal to the public, to always observe the minimum health standards and social distancing protocols to minimize the risk of exposure and mitigate the spread of the disease. The fight against COVID-19 continues and we should not let our guards down," the agency said.—AOL, GMA News