No rise in Covid-19 cases in schools, says DOH

There is no observed increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in schools— five months since the resumption of classes, the Department of Health (DOH) said.

DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said they did not receive reports of a surge in cases in schools despite the return of in-person classes.

“We have not been receiving too many reports coming from the schools of illnesses from students,” said Vergeire on Tuesday, Jan. 31.

Vergeire noted that students who contracted Covid-19 are immediately being managed in health facilities.

“Although meron talaga na nagkakasakit at sila naman po ay (there were indeed individuals who got sick but they were) adequately referred sa ating mga (to our) local health units,” she added.

The Health official also noted a good vaccine uptake among individuals aged five to 17.

“We are having this good accomplishment of vaccination amongst our schoolchildren,” she said.

She reported that a total of 3,424 schools across the country have Covid-19 vaccination sites and are conducting vaccination activities.

Based on the latest DOH data, over 10 million adolescents (12 to 17 years old) were already fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, more than 5.4 million children (aged five to 11) were also already fully-vaccinated against Covid-19.