Negros Oriental Governor Governor Manuel Sagarbarria has suspended classes in the province on Friday, August 7, 2026, to stop the spread of conjunctivitis or sore eyes.
Classes are suspended in all levels.
In Executive Order No. 50, the governor said the Integrated Provincial Health Office recommended the suspension of classes owing to the reported increase in the number of cases of sore eyes in several areas of the province.
He said there is a need to minimize close-contact exposure among learners, teaching personnel, and school employees.
“Sore eyes, commonly associated with conjunctival infection or irritation, may spread quickly in school settings because of close physical interaction, shares surfaces, and common facilities,” the EO reads.
“The temporary suspension of classes will reduce person-to-person exposure, allow affected students and personnel to rest and seek medical attention, and give schools adequate time to undertake cleaning, disinfection, and sanitation of classrooms, toilets, corridors, learning materials, and other frequently touched surfaces,” it reads further.
In the same EO, Sagarbarria directed school heads, administrators, and officials of both public and private schools to utilize the day “to undertake appropriate cleaning, disinfection, and sanitation measures within their respective campuses and facilities, particularly classrooms, offices, comfort rooms, clinics, handrails, desks, chairs, learning equipment, and other high-contact areas.”
He said schools may adopt their own learning modalities.
The governor also urged the public to observe proper hygiene and infection prevention measures, including:
- Frequent hand washing
- Avoiding sharing personal items
- Refraining from unnecessary close physical contact
- Seeking medical help when symptoms appear
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among the symptoms of conjunctivitis are:
- Eye redness
- Swelling
- Tears
- Discharge
- Itching or discomfort
