An analyst from the University of the Philippines said Tuesday class suspension until December 2020 could greatly help the country in containing the pandemic coronavirus.
Professor Mahar Lagmay of the UP Resilience Institute said suspending classes until December can reduce interaction between young people, hence lowering the risk of spreading COVID-19.
“Kapag walang klase hanggang December ay malaki po ang mababawas natin sa transmission ng COVID-19,” he said in a Palace virtual press briefing.
(If there are no classes until December, there will be a great slowdown in the transmission of the COVID-19.)
“Ito po ay isa sa mga rekomendasyon na binigay doon sa COVID-19,” he added.
(This is one of the recommendations on the COVID-19 pandemic.)
According to Lagmay, researches showed that there is 56% physical interaction among the 0-19 age group, which are mostly students.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education on Tuesday said it is considering reopening classes in August with the inclusion of Saturday classes.
Also read: CHED urges online graduation rites
Class suspension still depends on President Duterte and IATF
According to the Department of Education, the safety and health of teachers and students is the primary concern of the DepEd in deciding the opening of the class for SY 2020-2021.
Secretary Leonor Briones said face-to-face interaction between students and teachers is essential. However, the education department needs to wait for the Inter-Agency Task Force’s recommendation and the president’s decision on when students can return to school.
“Kung ano man ang rekomendasyon ng IATF at desisyon ng presidente… may influence ito kung kailan magbukas ang klase,” she said at the Laging Handa briefing.
(Whatever is the recommendation of the IATF and decision of the president… it may influence when classes would open.)
DepEd earlier announced it is postponing all graduation rites ceremony nationwide amid the threat of COVID-19.
According to the DOH COVID-19 CASE BULLETIN #038 posted on its Facebook page, as of 4 PM today, April 21, 2020, the Department of Health reports 140 new cases(PH6460-PH6599) of COVID-19. The total number of cases in the country is now at 6,599.
DOH also announced 41 new recoveries. This brings the total number of recoveries to 654.