DepEd issues guidelines on using schools as COVID-19 quarantine areas

Local government units that are planning to tap public schools as quarantine sites for suspected COVID-19 cases and those experiencing mild symptoms of the disease should make the proper coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd).

This was contained in the memorandum issued on Thursday by Education Secretary Leonor Briones, which was announced to the public by DepEd Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla in a televised briefing on Friday.

“The matter of utilization of schools as quarantine or isolation areas has been discussed in the IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases],” the memorandum stated.

“The agreement was that any decision concerning public schools should be made in consultation with DepEd, and in cooperation with DepEd officials on the ground and in compliance with the Department of Health (DOH) guidelines, with due consideration to specific conditions.”

Briones left it to the regional directors to decide on the requests of the LGUs as long as there is an evaluation by the schools division superintendent, in consultation with the school heads and with the DOH.

The guidelines for assessing the request are as follows:

• The LGU must state in its request the specific intended purpose or use for the school, and identify the particular facility in the school that will be used as well as the duration of their use, subject to extension, if necessary;
• The LGU must show that all other facilities have been duly assessed and were found to be inadequate. Schools can be recommended only when no other facilities are available;
• The LGU must present an assessment by the municipal, city, or provincial health officer that the facility within the school is suitable for the specific intended purpose;
• The LGU must present the planned management of the facility, which shall be under the supervision of the City/Municipal Health Officer, and must conform to existing DOH standards and guidelines and
• The LGU request must include an undertaking: for the safekeeping of all property and valuables in the school premises during the operation of the facility; payment of utilities for the period; the conduct of the general cleaning and fumigation, and repair and/or replacement of damaged school facilities as a result of the use of the school; and, payment of expenses related to the setting-up, operation and clearing of the areas used

Briones said the LGU must sign the terms and conditions for the use of DepEd schools provided by the DepEd regional director.

She also tasked the regional directors to craft an appropriate system for monitoring the use of schools within their jurisdiction as quarantine or isolation areas.

“In light of precautionary and social distancing measures, offsite monitoring through close coordination with LGUs is encouraged; physical monitoring shall be done when deemed feasible,” the memorandum stated.

The Philippines has so far reported 707 COVID-19 cases with 45 deaths and 28 recoveries, according to the data released by the DOH on Thursday. — RSJ, GMA News