It appears that more than 700 employees of the Department of Education and various students are already testing positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to a department report released on the supposed first day of school, Monday.
According to the DepEd report dated August 19, up to 264 students, 311 teachers, and 169 non-teaching personnel are suffering from the deadly disease.
“[A] total of 748 DepEd personnel (including the Central Office) and learners have been confirmed to be COVID-19 positive,” said DepEd Undersecretary Alain Pascua in a memo.
“[Over] 318 remain active cases, 408 have recovered, and 22 have died.”
At the head office alone, it is said that 15 cases have been confirmed – nine of them are still active, five have recovered while one is dead.
Today, August 24, is supposedly the beginning of the “distance learning” against the COVID-19 virus which will use various methods such as television, radio, internet, and physical teaching modules.
However, President Rodrigo Duterte suddenly moved it on October 5 so schools could prepare better, especially since there are still many offline modules that have not been printed yet, said Education Secretary Leonor Briones.
Also read: DepEd: No budget for teachers who acquired COVID-19
746 DepEd personnel, students tested positive for COVID-19
Despite the risk, the agency reminded that DepEd Task Force COVID-19 Memorandum 68 was available on July 21. DepEd said it would guide the bureaus, services, and units of the central office in detecting, reporting, referring any concerns related to COVID-19 cases and their close contacts.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) first called for the safe opening of classes in October amid the pandemic, especially since they do not see Duterte as “appreciative and committed” that the children can really go back to school.
“Sa kabila ng kawalan ng sapat na pondo, ilang buwan na nagmatigas ang DepEd sa school opening ngunit ipinasa lamang sa mga paaralan, guro, estudyante at magulang ang mga tungkulin sa paghahanda,” said ACT on Thursday.
“Sapul Hunyo 1, pinapasok sa mga paaralan at opisina ang mga guro at kawani nang walang proteksyon sa kalusugan. Bunsod nito ang pagkahawa ng higit 600 sa COVID 19 hanggang ilang paaralan ang nag-lockdown,” it added.