Classes in Negros Oriental suspended after reported confirmed case of COVID-19
By Glazyl Masculino
BACOLOD CITY - Classes in all levels in both public and private schools in Negros Oriental will be suspended from March 13 to 17, following a reported confirmed case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019) in the province.
Governor Roel Degamo issued Executive Order (E.O.) No. 17 on March 12, implementing the suspension of classes.
Degamo stated in the order that the national government has already reported the rise of locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 in the country.
He said the suspension of classes will prevent the possible spread of the virus, especially in schools.
Degamo also ordered the local police to ensure that during the suspension of classes, all school children and students must stay at home, and call the attention of parents or guardians to keep their wards at home.
Bimbo Miraflor, public information officer of the provincial government, said in a press conference on Thursday, that March 17 will the 14th day of quarantine period of the last contact of the 62-year-old patient who was tested positive for COVID-19.
The patient with confirmed case was a councilor from Tayasan town who attended a Philippine Councilor's League (PCL) meeting in Manila on February 26 to 28.
Miraflor said that the patient was still in serious condition at a hospital, dismissing rumors that the patient died on Wednesday night.
“He is fighting for his life,” the public information officer added.
Meanwhile, Miraflor said that seven more persons under monitoring (PUMs) were added to the initial 13 patients, who are being closely monitored by the local health officials for suspected infection of the viral disease. The seven additional PUMs had travel history from HongKong, South Korea, and China, he added.
For the three other PUIs, Miraflor said that their medical condition was improving.
For her part, Dr. Liland Estacion, provincial health officer, said that they were expecting four more possible PUIs who had close contact with the patient with confirmed case of COVID-19.”They are his family members” she added.
Estacion said she already sent her staff to pick-up these persons for medical observation. She said their contact tracing is ongoing.
In case there will be increase in the number of PUIs, Estacion said they already met with the management of all hospitals in the province to help them provide isolation rooms for the patients.