DOH assures safe return of face-to-face classes

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday assured parents that the government will not allow face-to-face classes if there is a risk to children amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“Hindi po tayo magbubukas kung nakikita natin na may risk po ang ating mga kabataan kapag sila ay bumalik sa kanilang eskwelahan,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a media briefing.

(We will not open up schools if it is risky to our children.)

Vergeire said the resumption of classes is tied to the alert level system, which is currently at Alert Level 1 - the lowest in the alert level system - for the National Capital Region until June 30.

“As long as the Alert Level is 1, now, we can say that we can resume. Pero pag dumating tayo doon sa buwan na talagang magbubukas na ang klase at napunta tayo sa Alert Level 3, definitely hindi pwede,” Vergeire siad in a media briefing.

(As long as the Alert Level is 1, now, we can say that we can resume. But if we rise to Alert Level 3 during the month when classes will start, then it will definitely not be allowed.

She urged the public to be “more scientific” in its analysis and to make use of the alert level system.

The Health undersecretary also urged parents to think about their children’s mental health and urged them to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19 to give them protection.

“They have been in lockdown for two years or more already. This is the time for us to let them go back to school to have their interactions with other people, their classmates, and their teachers para rin po hindi matigil ang kanilang pagaaral na sila ang inaasahan din ng ating bayan,” she said.

(They have been in lockdown for two years or more already. This is the time for us to let them go back to school to have their interactions with other people, their classmates, and their teachers and so their studies will not be hindered since they are the hope of the country.)

Meanwhile, Dr. Ana Ong-Lim of the DOH Technical Advisory Group expressed hope that the public will not waste the chance to get children aged 12 to 17 to get their boosters shots.

“Ito ay parte ng paghahanda ng resumption ng face-to-face classes. And hopefully, in the two or three months over the summer break na magkaroon tayo ng rollout, karamihan ng ating magsisipagbalik sa eskwelahan ay na cover na by the time school opens,” she said.

(This is part of the preparation for the resumption of face-to-face classes. And hopefully, in the two or three months over the summer break where we will have a rollout, I hope most of those returning to school has been covered by the time school opens.)

At the Laging Handa briefing, National Vaccination Operations Center chairperson Myrna Cabotaje also said she favored the mandatory vaccination of students participating in face-to-face classes.

However, she stressed that this remains to be optional.

“Personally, kung ako okay lang na mandatory. Pero alam naman natin na nasa batas, voluntary ito kaya kailangan ng consent. Gayon pa man, ine-encourage po ng ating Department of Heath na magbakuna ‘yung ating mga 12 to 17,” Cabotaje said.

(Personally, I am okay with it being mandatory. But we know that it’s voluntary, we need consent. Despite this, the DOH encourages the vaccination of our 12 to 17.)—LDF, GMA News