Minimal COVID-19 infections in face-to-face college classes not a concern yet –Palace

Malacañang said Tuesday that the minimal COVID-19 infections in face-to-face classes at the collegiate level was not a cause for concern thus far.

“No [it is not a cause of concern] because in-person classes are only conducted in places with low numbers of COVID-19 cases,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

“Also, our COVID-19 vaccination coverage rate is increasing. We need to live with the COVID-19 virus and go back to our normal lives because COVID-19 vaccination is ongoing,” Roque added.

Roque said Tuesday that there were 24 million Filipinos who were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 so far.

Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Prospero de Vera, Jr. earlier said that the resumption of face-to-face classes at the tertiary level depended on the necessity of physical training and curriculum flexibility.

On Tuesday, De Vera said that COVID-19 infections are a concern for everyone including the Commission.

He pointed out that CHED and the Department of Health guidelines should be strictly followed to reduce the risk from COVID-19 and achieve learning continuity.

“The objective of limited F2F classes within a flexible learning system is to allow limited F2F for courses needing skills training through guidelines that limit the risk. That is happening now,” he said in a message to reporters.

“COVID-19 infections are a concern for everyone, including CHED. But if all education stakeholders work together in the spirit of Bayanihan, strictly follow the CHED-DOH Guidelines, adjust when necessary, then we can reduce or mitigate the risk so learning can continue,” he added. — DVM, GMA News