DepEd gives go signal to use 17,000 classrooms in NCR as isolation, quarantine facilities

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday confirmed that it is allowing the use of 50 percent of the government-run classrooms in Metro Manila as isolation and quarantine facilities.

"Nagkakasundo na kami sa Department of Health, kay Secretary [Carlito] Galvez at saka ng IATF na 50% ng ating mga classrooms sa National Capital Region ay puwedeng gamitin as isolation centers as well as quarantine centers," Education Secretary Leonor Briones said in a Palace briefing.

This translates to 17,910 classrooms and the number could go higher if private schools would also allow their facilities to be used, she added.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque first made the announcement regarding the conversion of classrooms to isolation facilities on Wednesday.

There are over 143,000 COVID-19 cases in the country, and more than 79,000 of which have been recorded in NCR.

As of August 11, 73% of the 3,700 isolation beds in the region are occupied. -MDM, GMA News