DepEd suspends nat’l, regional events but two happening this week to push through

Following reports of local COVID-19 transmission in the Philippines, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Sunday that it will suspend all national and regional events scheduled “until further notice.”

The department said the suspension covers events involving students from different localities such as the Palaro Regional Meets.

However, DepEd said the National Festival of Talents (NFOT) and National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) will push through as scheduled “since participants are already at the venue.”

“Heightened precautions are being implemented at NFOT and NSPC, which include foregoing elements of the programs that can be avoided (such as parades, etc.),” DepEd said in a statement.

The NFOT will be held in Ilagan City, Isabela, while the NSPC will be hosted in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

Both events will run from March 9 to 13.

“Decisions on other DepEd activities shall await definitive advisory from the Inter-Agency Task Force that we hope to receive tomorrow (Monday), to ensure informed, coordinated and proportionate response,” DepEd said.

On Saturday, the Department of Health said the number of confirmed 2019 novel coronavirus cases in the country has risen to six, including a married couple in Cainta with no known travel history. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News