DepEd asks parents, learners to heed DOH's advice on nCoV
Published Jan 24, 2020 12:00 am
By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
Amid the threat of the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV), the Department of Education (DepEd) urged learners and their parents, as well as guardians, to follow the advice issued by the Department of Health (DOH) on how to avoid getting viral infection.
Department of Education (MANILA BULLETIN)
DepEd, on its Facebook page, issued a reminder to millions of learners and stakeholders on sanitation practices following reports on the 2019 nCoV. "Pinapaalalahanan ang mga bata at mga magulang na sundin ang mga sumusunod na payo mula sa Department of Health upang makaiwas sa viral infection," DepEd said.
The DOH had earlier said it is currently "investigating the case of a five-year-old boy who traveled from Wuhan, China and was admitted in Cebu City for manifesting fever, throat irritation, and cough prior to entering the Philippines."
DOH said that "samples from the patient were tested at the RITM and yielded negative results for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus (SARS-CoV)."
However, the DOH noted that the "samples tested positive for the non-specific pancoronavirus assay, thus the specimen has been sent to Australia to identify the specific coronavirus strain."
Despite this, both the Health and Education departments urged the public to focus on hygiene and sanitation practices such as regular washing of hands, proper hydration, avoiding contact with live animals or people who show signs and symptoms of flu, among others.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also urged DepEd to put schools on "alert status" to help ensure that students are protected against nCoV. Despite the DOH's confirmation that the country remains free of nCoV, he underscored the need for schools to step up their preventive efforts.
“We must be even more vigilant with the entry of one confirmed case that can spread to others,” Gatchalian, who also serves as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, said. In particular, he asked DepEd to instruct schools to strengthen its information campaign on nCoV and to intensify its sanitation practices.
According to reports, nCov has been affecting hundreds of individuals in China where it originated. Cases of the new coronavirus strain were also confirmed in the United States, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
Read more: Human-to-human transmission of novel Coronavirus confirmed — DOH, DepEd-Manila to reinforce hygiene practices amid novel coronavirus threat
Department of Education (MANILA BULLETIN)
DepEd, on its Facebook page, issued a reminder to millions of learners and stakeholders on sanitation practices following reports on the 2019 nCoV. "Pinapaalalahanan ang mga bata at mga magulang na sundin ang mga sumusunod na payo mula sa Department of Health upang makaiwas sa viral infection," DepEd said.
The DOH had earlier said it is currently "investigating the case of a five-year-old boy who traveled from Wuhan, China and was admitted in Cebu City for manifesting fever, throat irritation, and cough prior to entering the Philippines."
DOH said that "samples from the patient were tested at the RITM and yielded negative results for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus (SARS-CoV)."
However, the DOH noted that the "samples tested positive for the non-specific pancoronavirus assay, thus the specimen has been sent to Australia to identify the specific coronavirus strain."
Despite this, both the Health and Education departments urged the public to focus on hygiene and sanitation practices such as regular washing of hands, proper hydration, avoiding contact with live animals or people who show signs and symptoms of flu, among others.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also urged DepEd to put schools on "alert status" to help ensure that students are protected against nCoV. Despite the DOH's confirmation that the country remains free of nCoV, he underscored the need for schools to step up their preventive efforts.
“We must be even more vigilant with the entry of one confirmed case that can spread to others,” Gatchalian, who also serves as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, said. In particular, he asked DepEd to instruct schools to strengthen its information campaign on nCoV and to intensify its sanitation practices.
According to reports, nCov has been affecting hundreds of individuals in China where it originated. Cases of the new coronavirus strain were also confirmed in the United States, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
Read more: Human-to-human transmission of novel Coronavirus confirmed — DOH, DepEd-Manila to reinforce hygiene practices amid novel coronavirus threat