DOH launches campaign for safe return of face-to-face classes

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday welcomed the resumption of in-person classes of some 13,000 schools nationwide by launching a campaign to keep the students safe against the threat of COVID-19.

During a media forum, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire noted that over one million children aged five to 11, and nine million minors aged 12 to 17 are fully vaccinated.

Aside from the newly launched “BIDA Kid” campaign, Vergeire said DOH is ramping up the pediatric inoculation through the “Resbakuna Kids” and the "Bayanihan, Bakunahan" national vaccination drive.

This campaign, in coordination with the DOH, Department of Education (DepEd), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), aims to get all students safely back to schools amid the pandemic.

“Maliban sa mga bakuna, marapat pa ring sundin ang ating (aside from the vaccines, it is important to observe the) minimum public health standards: B, wear the best-fitted mask; I, isolate when not feeling well; D, double-up your protections with our vaccines; and A, please ensure good airflow,” Vergeire said.

“Inaanyayahan namin ang lahat na makilahok sa ating BIDA Kid upang masiguro ang ligtas na pagbabalik eskwela ng ating mga kabataan, ng ating mga estudyante,” she added.

(We invite everyone to participate in our BIDA Kid campaign to ensure the safe return to school of our youth, our students.)

The DepEd on Monday reported at least 13,692 public and private schools are currently holding in-person classes.

This is 78.3% of the 17,479 schools nominated to conduct face-to-face classes. Of this number, 17,054 were public while 425 were private schools.—AOL, GMA News