The Department of Health (DOH) still backed the conduct of face-to-face classes amid some developments in the country’s Covid-19 situation.
DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire made this statement after she was asked about the Health department’s current position on the conduct of in-person classes amid the detection of new variants of coronavirus in the country.
“Ang DOH, even with the entry of these new variants, even if some of the areas ay may pagtaas ng kaso, tuloy-tuloy po ang ating pagsuporta sa face-to-face classes ng Department of Education (The DOH, even with the entry of these new variants, even if some of the areas have an increase in cases, we will continue to support the face-to-face classes of the Department of Education),” said Vergeire in a press briefing on Tuesday, Oct. 18.
Vergeire noted that the pandemic has an adverse effect on the mental health of children.
“Atin pong nakita ang naging epekto ng pandemya, restrictions, pagkawala ng pasok ng face-to-face sa mental health ng ating kabataan (We saw the effects of the pandemic, restrictions, and the suspension of face to face classes to the mental health of our children),” said Vergeire.
“We would like to give that commitment na tayo ay hindi lang Covid-19 ang ating sisiguraduhin na maayos sa ating populasyon. Pati na rin po yung kanilang mental health (that the population is protected not only against Covid-19. We also want to ensure their mental health), especially of our children,” she added.
The DOH said it is important to keep certain safeguards to protect children. These include vaccination, ensuring proper ventilation in classrooms, and “continuous surveillance and monitoring in our schools.”
To note, the DOH announced the presence of Omicron subvariant XBB and XBC subvariant in the Philippines.