Face-to-face classes can be considered in areas with minimal risk for COVID-19 —Duque

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Tuesday said face-to-face classes can be considered in areas with very low risk for COVID-19 with the observance of minimum health standards.

“Kung ang lugar naman ay COVID-free for two weeks or four weeks, I am not sure, but zero case, walang COVID, walang risk halos, mababa ang risk, baka doon puwedeng pagbigyan,” Duque told CNN Philippines.

Duque was responding to a question on factors that would make him recommend the resumption of face-to-face classes to President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Basta very low risk or minimal risk, I think that should be considered in the decision whether face-to-face classes would be allowed,” he said.

At a Senate hearing last week, Department of Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said the possible reintroduction of face-to-face classes would require a shared responsibility

“Without this, the DepEd will surely be blamed solely for any incidents of exposure and infection," he said.

For Malaluan, local government units and parents should be in an agreement of shared responsibility.

On Sunday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año expressed his opposition to calls for the resumption of face-to-face classes.

"Ang sinasabi natin, huwag na lang natin munang i-rush. Kasi ang tanong diyan, ikaw gusto mong gawin 'yan pero sino ba ang responsable diyan? Ikaw ba? Ang galing mong magrekomenda pero wala ka naman palang responsibilidad diyan," Año said.

"Kung magkasakit at magkaroon ng spike, ikaw ba ang gagamot diyan, ikaw ba magsasagot ng gastos diyan? Pangalawa, sino'ng magiging accountable?" —KBK, GMA News