Learners, personnel in schools remain coronavirus-free - DepEd
Published Feb 12, 2020 12:00 am
By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
With preemptive safety protocols and precautions in place, the Department of Education (DepEd) said its schools, learners, and personnel remain coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-free.
DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Pascua, in a statement, gave the assurance that the department remains steadfast in its efforts to reduce the exposure to risks associated with COVID-19, formerly called 2019-nCoV (novel coronavirus) acute respiratory disease.
Education Undersecretary Alain Del Pascua
(Alain Del Pascua official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN) Pascua noted that with the help of Department of Health (DOH), DepEd has already “issued preemptive safety precautions and protocols” and “prepared information collaterals” to “keep our schools, personnel, and learners nCoV-free.” “We firmly adhere to our primary mandate of protecting our teachers and personnel and our 27.2 million learners,” Pascua said. He also encouraged concerned groups and other stakeholders “to help us on this mission, so that more Filipino will be informed on the proper ways of dealing” with COVID-19. Refer those with symptoms, follow safety protocols Meanwhile, DepEd enjoined all schools and its offices to refer students and personnel who exhibit medical symptoms in an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19. Education Secretary Leonor Briones, in DepEd’s latest policy directives to the task force on the new coronavirus, said “all offices and schools shall utilize existing referral systems as indicated in the School Health and Nutrition Service Manual for personnel and learners who are exhibiting symptoms of respiratory infection and others.” DepEd also issued a set of guidelines for school administrators on how to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 as well as seasonal influenza in schools. Both public and private schools were enjoined to follow and adopt the recommendations of DOH and the World Health Organization. DepEd has adopted the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on proper hygiene and practices such as regular handwashing and cough etiquette. In addition, schools should encourage daily preventive actions to stop the spread of germs and let learners and staff stay home when sick. DepEd also enjoined schools to provide adequate supplies, including clean and functional handwashing stations, soap, paper towels, and alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and encourage routine surface cleaning through education, policy, and the provision of supplies. Schools also need to separate sick learners and staff from others until they can be picked up to go home by identifying a “sick room,” if feasible. DepEd also asked schools to establish relationships with state and local public health officials for ongoing communication and updated emergency plans so that they are in place before an outbreak occurs.
Education Undersecretary Alain Del Pascua(Alain Del Pascua official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN) Pascua noted that with the help of Department of Health (DOH), DepEd has already “issued preemptive safety precautions and protocols” and “prepared information collaterals” to “keep our schools, personnel, and learners nCoV-free.” “We firmly adhere to our primary mandate of protecting our teachers and personnel and our 27.2 million learners,” Pascua said. He also encouraged concerned groups and other stakeholders “to help us on this mission, so that more Filipino will be informed on the proper ways of dealing” with COVID-19. Refer those with symptoms, follow safety protocols Meanwhile, DepEd enjoined all schools and its offices to refer students and personnel who exhibit medical symptoms in an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19. Education Secretary Leonor Briones, in DepEd’s latest policy directives to the task force on the new coronavirus, said “all offices and schools shall utilize existing referral systems as indicated in the School Health and Nutrition Service Manual for personnel and learners who are exhibiting symptoms of respiratory infection and others.” DepEd also issued a set of guidelines for school administrators on how to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 as well as seasonal influenza in schools. Both public and private schools were enjoined to follow and adopt the recommendations of DOH and the World Health Organization. DepEd has adopted the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on proper hygiene and practices such as regular handwashing and cough etiquette. In addition, schools should encourage daily preventive actions to stop the spread of germs and let learners and staff stay home when sick. DepEd also enjoined schools to provide adequate supplies, including clean and functional handwashing stations, soap, paper towels, and alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and encourage routine surface cleaning through education, policy, and the provision of supplies. Schools also need to separate sick learners and staff from others until they can be picked up to go home by identifying a “sick room,” if feasible. DepEd also asked schools to establish relationships with state and local public health officials for ongoing communication and updated emergency plans so that they are in place before an outbreak occurs.