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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DepEd Central Office on lockdown until March 24

DepEd Central Office on lockdown until March 24

Published Mar 18, 2021 10:50 pm

An official of the Department of Education (DepEd) confirmed that the Central Office Complex in Pasig City has been placed on a lockdown starting Thursday, March 18 until Wednesday, March 26.

DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Pascua said that the Department of Education Task Force COVID-19 (DTFC) has recommended the lockdown of the entire DepEd Central Office for seven days.

“As of 1 p.m. yan kanina, yung approval (It was approved around 1 p.m.,” he told the Manila Bulletin in a Viber message. Currently, he is in the Visayas as part of the monitoring of the department’s programs and projects.

Pascua, who also serves as the chairperson of the DTFC, issued the memorandum dated March 18 recommending the lockdown of the CO. This came after the CO Clinic and the School Health Division reported that six confirmed COVID-19 positive cases “have physically reported to the CO within the past 14 days.”

Of the six cases, Pascua noted that five (three females and two males) were tested last March 17 as part of the local government unit (LGU) requirements for “their official travel to Central Visayas” and as a policy of the OUA policy of testing prior to event engagements.  

“Their results were released early morning of March 18,” Pascua said. He added that testing was done at the CO on March 17 “when the said cases, all asymptomatic, reported to work for other preparatory activities related to their travel.”

Previously, Pascua said that “one male tested positive on March 15, 2021 and have reported on that day at the CO.”

During the period of lockdown, Pascua said that all personnel shall work from home. They were also were asked to refrain from leaving their homes - except for members of the CO clinic and other identified staff who may need to physically report medical and emergency response activities.

Pascua added that also exempted from the lockdown are those “whose physical reporting to their respective stations is essential to ensure the continuous and smooth delivery of necessary medical and other health-related services.”

He added that there will be “intensified disinfection” in the DepEd Complex before the resumption of physical work next week.

Meanwhile, Pascua assured that contact tracing is currently ongoing for the close contacts of suspect, probable, and confirmed COVID-19 cases in the CO.

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