DepEd to work closely with DOH on nCoV
Published Jan 31, 2020 12:00 am
By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
Following the first confirmed case of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the country, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday expressed readiness to “contribute to the overall Philippine government efforts for the management of this public health situation.”
(MANILA BULLETIN)
“DepEd regards the nCoV as a matter of serious and urgent concern,” DepEd said in a statement. It also assured that it will continue to look for guidance from the Department of Health (DOH) on “how we can best help.”
“At this point, the situation is unfolding, and we do not want to contribute to any confusion, panic, or false information,” DepEd said - noting that even before the confirmation of the first 2019-nCoV case in the country, Education Secretary Briones has “been calling on schools and coordinating” with DOH officials for the implementation of DOH guidelines. In particular, the DepEd has been coordinating any decision for “any school lockdown in specific communities should the need arises.”
The DOH confirmed on Thursday the first case of 2019-nCoV in the country which involves a 38-year-old Chinese woman from Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.
Briones called on DepEd officials in the affected regions to “cooperate with the DOH teams who are now engaged in the task of tracing individuals who were in contact with and may have been exposed to the confirmed patient during her visit.”
Reports said the patient is currently admitted at the San Lazaro Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila. She reportedly arrived in the country from Wuhan, China via Hong Kong on January 21. The DOH also confirmed that the patient was also on two domestic flights to Cebu and Dumaguete City.
DepEd said that tracking individuals who were in contact with the patient is “for the benefit not only of our schools and learners but of the communities as well.”
Briones has also been in direct communication with DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III as well as the health officers in the affected regions and communities visited by the confirmed patient since Thursday night.
“We direct the regions and schools to continue extending their fullest cooperation to DOH on the nCoV situation,” DepEd added.
DepEd’s efforts
DepEd said it continues its “efforts to promote awareness and precautionary measures for schools and their immediate communities using the information materials” from the DOH.
“Our local units are also instructed to coordinate with their DOH counterparts,” the DepEd said. These directives were communicated through various means such as a January 24, 2020 advisory from the office of the Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua.
In light of the confirmation of one case and a number of patients under investigation and the World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of nCoV as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, DepEd Execom members will hold a meeting on the issue.
“In the meeting, we will consolidate available information from official sources, and discuss further actions, measures, and mechanisms for readiness and response,” DepEd said. “We will also send observers to any meeting that the government Inter-agency Task Force may have,” the agency added.
DepEd said that it has expanded the coverage of the work of the Taal Quick Response and Recovery Team to include the nCoV matter. The agency also noted that it will “provide further updates” as soon as available.
DepEd Undersecretary and Spokesperson Annalyn Sevilla said that an awareness campaign is “ongoing” in all schools through DepEd’s schools division offices (SDOs), medical officers, and nurses while Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials and other updates from DOH on NCoV are also “being printed for distribution to schools.”
Read more: PH has 1st 2019-nCoV case
(MANILA BULLETIN)
“DepEd regards the nCoV as a matter of serious and urgent concern,” DepEd said in a statement. It also assured that it will continue to look for guidance from the Department of Health (DOH) on “how we can best help.”
“At this point, the situation is unfolding, and we do not want to contribute to any confusion, panic, or false information,” DepEd said - noting that even before the confirmation of the first 2019-nCoV case in the country, Education Secretary Briones has “been calling on schools and coordinating” with DOH officials for the implementation of DOH guidelines. In particular, the DepEd has been coordinating any decision for “any school lockdown in specific communities should the need arises.”
The DOH confirmed on Thursday the first case of 2019-nCoV in the country which involves a 38-year-old Chinese woman from Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.
Briones called on DepEd officials in the affected regions to “cooperate with the DOH teams who are now engaged in the task of tracing individuals who were in contact with and may have been exposed to the confirmed patient during her visit.”
Reports said the patient is currently admitted at the San Lazaro Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila. She reportedly arrived in the country from Wuhan, China via Hong Kong on January 21. The DOH also confirmed that the patient was also on two domestic flights to Cebu and Dumaguete City.
DepEd said that tracking individuals who were in contact with the patient is “for the benefit not only of our schools and learners but of the communities as well.”
Briones has also been in direct communication with DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III as well as the health officers in the affected regions and communities visited by the confirmed patient since Thursday night.
“We direct the regions and schools to continue extending their fullest cooperation to DOH on the nCoV situation,” DepEd added.
DepEd’s efforts
DepEd said it continues its “efforts to promote awareness and precautionary measures for schools and their immediate communities using the information materials” from the DOH.
“Our local units are also instructed to coordinate with their DOH counterparts,” the DepEd said. These directives were communicated through various means such as a January 24, 2020 advisory from the office of the Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua.
In light of the confirmation of one case and a number of patients under investigation and the World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of nCoV as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, DepEd Execom members will hold a meeting on the issue.
“In the meeting, we will consolidate available information from official sources, and discuss further actions, measures, and mechanisms for readiness and response,” DepEd said. “We will also send observers to any meeting that the government Inter-agency Task Force may have,” the agency added.
DepEd said that it has expanded the coverage of the work of the Taal Quick Response and Recovery Team to include the nCoV matter. The agency also noted that it will “provide further updates” as soon as available.
DepEd Undersecretary and Spokesperson Annalyn Sevilla said that an awareness campaign is “ongoing” in all schools through DepEd’s schools division offices (SDOs), medical officers, and nurses while Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials and other updates from DOH on NCoV are also “being printed for distribution to schools.”
Read more: PH has 1st 2019-nCoV case