DOH records 3,939 COVID-19 cases for aged 12 to 17 from September 1 to November 3

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday recorded 3,939 COVID-19 cases for individuals aged 12 to 17 from September 1 to November 3.

At the press briefing, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said no severe infections and deaths were reported among this age group.

“But as I've said, wala naman naitala na nagkaroon severe infection or wala naman naitala na namatay na estudyante because of this,” Vergeire said.

(But as I've said, no severe infection was recorded or no student died because of this.)

Vergeire said these reported infections were not a hindrance to continue the implementation of full face-to-face classes. 

“Yes, there had been this number of infections among students during this time that we started gradually.. the schools and having face-to-face, pero sa tingin ko hindi dapat yan maging balakid para patuloy na magkaroon ng full implementation ng face-to-face classes,” she said.

(Yes, there had been this number of infections among students during this time that we started gradually..the schools and having face-to-face classes, but I think that should not be an obstacle to continue to have a full implementation of face-to-face classes.)

“Dahil sa tingin ko, unang una, ung benepisyo na binibigay ng face-to-face classes would outweigh the number of mild infections that have been experienced by our students during these past months,” she added.

(Because I think, first of all, the benefits provided by face-to-face classes would outweigh the number of mild infections that have been experienced by our students during these past months.)

Clarification

The DOH issued the clarification after it was earlier reported that these cases were among students across different schools nationwide.

“We would like to clarify that the 3,939 cases mentioned in the media forum earlier are not specific to students, but rather for individuals aged 12-17 y/o recorded between September 01-Nov. 3,” the department said.

“We are still waiting for official reports regarding the number of recorded infections in schools,” it added.

Vergeire said they are coordinating with the Department of Education (DepEd) regarding the number of students who have been infected with COVID-19.

She said the DepEd expressed commitment that they will be completing the reports from all schools and the same will be submitted to the DOH.

“Hanggang sa ngayon, we are coordinating with deped regarding the number of students who have been infected with COVID-19. Although we have our own report kung saan sa report natin, hindi nanggagaling sa eskwelahan, iniisa isa namin yan na kinukuha from our complete list of surveillance report,” she said.

(Until now, we are coordinating with the DepEd regarding the number of students who have been infected with COVID-19. Although we have our own report where in our report, it does not come from the school, we only have one that is taken from our complete list of surveillance report.)

At least 94% of the public schools in the National Capital Region (NCR) have resumed the conduct of the five-day in-person classes on Wednesday, more than two years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Citing the NCR regional director, DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said these public schools are now operating at full capacity, meaning 100% of their students have come back to study in their respective schools.

So far, Poa said the return of the mandatory face-to-face classes in public schools starting November 2, has been orderly.

With the resumption of full in-person classes, DepEd earlier said that students and teachers may now opt to remove their face masks even in classrooms, in accordance with the existing national policy. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News