A health reform advocate urged parents and children to maximize the ongoing “academic break” in selected educational institutions to equip themselves about the symptoms and prevention of the highly transmissible Omicron variant of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“During the academic break, it is important to educate kids with parents on Omicron symptoms and home care. Empowerment is key,” said health reform advocate and former National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 special adviser Dr. Anthony “Tony” Leachon in a Facebook post on Monday, Jan. 17.
The Department of Education (DepEd), on Thursday, Jan. 13, has instructed its local offices to “exercise discretion” in suspending classes and other teaching-related activities amid the surge of COVID-19 infections.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno likewise declared a week-long education “health break” for all students, teachers, and school personnel at all levels beginning Jan. 14 until Jan. 21, 2022, to help “reduce the anxiety of everyone” amid the recent spike of infections.
Meanwhile, Leachon reiterated that it is important to understand that the Omicron poses different symptoms to the Delta variant of COVID-19.
Citing the data from the American and Japanese health experts, Leachon said that the Omicron causes symptoms like fever, cough, and sore throat while the Delta also causes fever, cough, and sore throat but with the loss of sense of taste or sense of smell and shortness of breath.