As the country continues to grapple with COVID-19, medical experts on Thursday said online learning - whenever possible and feasible - is their preferred teaching method to ensure safety of students and teachers.
In a media conference hosted by the Philippine Pediatric Society, Inc. (PPS) dubbed “COVID-19 in Children,” resource speakers from the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP) explained why online learning - depending on class and subject matter - is more ideal than in-person teaching amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The resource speakers also discussed how children could also be affected by COVID-19 and what strategies schools across the country can use to prevent transmission of the disease once in-person classes are allowed by the authorities.
“Online learning, depending on class and subject matter, is the preferred teaching method, over in-person teaching,” said PIDSP President Dr. Mary Ann Bunyi, underscoring the importance of remote or contactless learning among students to prevent and reduce COVID-19 transmission.
Bunyi said the PPS and PIDSP crafted back-to-school guidelines once face-to-face classes are allowed by the authorities.
“The objectives of the guidelines are to provide guidance on infection control and prevention of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in schools,” she said. “It also aims to complement recommendations from other authorities and policy-making bodies in guiding its decisions on school resumption.”
Bunyi explained that so far, the majority of COVID-19 cases in “children are mild.” They are also less likely than adolescents and adults to get infected. She noted, however, the “role of children in transmitting the virus is still unclear.”
School closure, Bunyi said, was a public health measure. Given this, she noted that re-opening of classes remains a “huge challenge” especially the resumption of in-person classroom teaching. While the PPS and PIDSP issues interim recommendations for schools in the Philippine setting, she clarified that it is more focused on infection control and prevention of COVID-19 transmission.
“We are in no position to recommend resumption of face-to-face classes, we leave it to the DepEd or the government,” Bunyi said. “We’re more focused on the prevention of the transmission in the school setting."
Once it is deemed safe to resume in-person classes, Bunyi explained that schools should focus on preventing or reducing COVID-19 transmission in schools through individual protection, strategic logistical measures, and presence of appropriate infrastructure.
Bunyi reminded that guidelines have been developed with proper usage of references and in full cognizance of the risk versus benefits in school resumption.
“Since the country’s COVID situation is constantly changing, school strategies to be implemented and adapted can be readily modified appropriate to the current setting at hand,” she added.
Overall, she noted that diversity of the student population “must always be kept in mind” when it comes to implementation and formulation of policies.
Meanwhile, PIDSP Vice President Dr. Fatima Gimenez explained “children of all ages can be affected by COVID-19,” noting that around 45% of them are asymptomatic.
Gimenez also explained the “true incidence underestimated in children” with lack of widespread testing, prioritization of testing for adults with severe illness and lesser number of children hospitalized.
“So far, children and adolescents have been far less affected by COVID-19 and their symptoms have almost always been mild,” Gimenez explained.
Despite this, Gimenez urged the parents and the community to remain vigilant and make sure that children are protected against the dreaded disease. This, she explained, can be done by teaching them proper hygiene, ensuring proper wearing of masks and face shields, as well as practicing physical distancing.
With the flu season around, Gimenez also reminded her fellow pediatricians to ensure that the vaccination schedule of children or their patients - especially against influenza - are up to date.
To help educate children and parents to protect themselves against COVID-19, the PPS also launched its 3Ws infographic campaign.
The “3Ws” (Wear mask, Watch distance, Wash hands) promotes preventive measures that are applicable to both children and adults against COVID-19.
It underscores the need to wear mask or both mask and face shield to cover the nose, mouth and chin except for children two years old and below; watching distance or at least one meter or three feet away from other people; and washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or sanitizing with 70 % ethyl or isopropyl alcohol if not available.