Malacañang, on Sunday, said school heads should decide whether to declare the class suspension after President Rodrigo Duterte declared public health emergency due to coronavirus or COVID-10 outbreak.
Some local governments have already suspended classes this week after the Department of Health confirmed the sixth COVID-19 case and the local transmission of the virus.
“It is upon the discretion of school authorities. Of course, they are the ones deciding on that. They are the administrators. They can suspend, they can reschedule to make up for absences,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a radio interview.
As of today, the Department of Health confirmed 10 COVID-19 cases in the country, including a resident of Quezon City, its mayor said Monday.
Marikina city mayor also confirmed once case from their city, but it is not yet clear whether the patient is among the 10 COVID-19 cases DOH has reported.
Panelo previously said the President might consider the shutdown of schools for a while just like what the Japanese government did to contain the virus.
However, Health Secretary Franciso Duque III said it was “not yet right” to suspend classes.
“The class suspension is their strategy, their decision. They will be the ones accountable for their decisions,” said Duque.
Class suspension due to coronavirus, March 9
Below is the updated list of class suspensions
METRO MANILA
Marikina City – all levels, public and private (until Wednesday, March 11)
Navotas City – all levels, public and private
Pasay City – all levels, public and private (until Tuesday, March 10)
Quezon City – Bagong Lipunan Crame Elementary School and High School
San Juan City – all levels, public and private
RIZAL
Cainta, Rizal – all levels, public and private (until Tuesday, March 10)
Taytay, Rizal – all levels, public and private