CHED: No COVID-19 infection in NCR med schools since limited face-to-face classes started

There has been no COVID-19 infection recorded since limited face-to-face classes in medical schools in Metro Manila resumed earlier this year, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said.

CHED chairperson Prospero de Vera III said this is due to the fact that professors and students in these classes have been classified as medical frontliners and as such, were prioritized in COVID-19 vaccination.

Likewise, De Vera said a periodic COVID-19 testing of medical students was also conducted.

"The first to hold face-to-face classes is UP College of Medicine who had periodic COVID-19 testing, and this was also done by Our Lady of Fatima University. There has been zero COVID-19 infection in their face-to-face classes,” De Vera said.

“They (medical students and professors) are focused on compliance on minimum public health standards, and they also had additional protection because they were immediately qualified to be vaccinated,” he added.

De Vera said that 73 medical schools nationwide have been inspected and given the green light by the national government to resume limited face-to-face classes, and the only COVID-19 infection was reported in Eastern Visayas.

“Others already started, some are in the middle of the semester, or about to open. There are still a number of universities up for our inspection,” de Vera said.

“Our regional office is still looking at what caused the COVID-19 infection there,” De Vera added.

The national government has already allowed limited face-to-face classes for nursing, medical technology, physical therapy, and other medical-related courses, but De Vera said the coverage can be expanded if the safe conduct of face-to-face classes will continue.

“We will look at the data for the first batch of limited face-to-face classes. If we see that the students can be safe, we will ask for permission to expand the limited face-to-face classes to other degree programs,” De Vera added.

The Philippines has 58,063 active COVID-19 cases as of June 15.—AOL, GMA News