STUDENTS experiencing flu-like symptoms should not come to school, the Department of Education (DepEd)-Davao stated in a memorandum.
DepEd Davao director Evelyn R. Fetalvero signed Memorandum 015, series of 2020, dated February 4, 2020, institutionalizing Project Shield in 11 Schools-Division Offices in the region.
Shield stands for Strategic Health Intervention to Emerging Health Threats through Information Education Campaigns for Learners and Educators in Davao Region.
The order was issued in response to the ongoing outbreak of the 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
In the memo, Fetalvero said students who are not feeling well should not come to school and those students who are experiencing flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough, or cold, among others, must also stay at home.
Fetalvero said their absences from classes will be excused.
"In addition, during this time of self-quarantine, it is further advised that they should stay at home and are discouraged to attend tutorials or go to other places. After the quarantine period, they are obliged to present a medical certificate (dated and signed by a doctor) as clearance of any symptoms of the corona virus infection," she said.
Meanwhile, she said students, teachers and non-teaching personnel should follow proper handwashing techniques, as well as coughing and sneezing etiquette.
Other objectives of the Project Shield is the creation of a task force at the division and district levels to oversee all school information education campaigns, handle students who exhibit flu-like symptoms.
All division, district and school health personnel will have to disseminate information on coronavirus to the students, teachers, non-teaching personnel, including parents and the whole of the school community.
All student government organizations, scouts and youth leaders will be tasked to create awareness on 2019-nCoV and assist in the nCoV prevention activities.
DepEd-Davao will also intensify health education awareness in the classrooms, hold meetings with the Parents-Teachers Association giving emphasis on proper nutrition, personal hygiene of their children and the importance of environmental sanitation.
The order also aims to establish close collaboration with local government units and health organizations, rural health units, PTAs on identification of students whose family members have traveled to infected places, referral of students, teachers and non-teaching personnel with fever or who suffer from respiratory infection, and encourage proper hand washing, coughing and sneezing etiquette.
Travel limitations and restrictions
DepEd-Davao also announced that all travels, official and personal, to China and its special administrative regions are temporarily banned.
The agency also said official travels of all DepEd personnel and learners previously approved by Secretary Leonor Briones for the month of February 2020 to countries identified to have confirmed cases or persons under investigation for the 2019-nCoV are revoked.
"All DepEd personnel with approved personal travels to the same countries are highly advised not to proceed," Fetalvero said.
Suspension
Upon the advice of the Department of Health (DOH), DepEd-Davao announced that all national and regional activities involving learners and/or teachers requiring travel and congregation of various schools, divisions, and regions are suspended.
DepEd-Davao said the department will periodically evaluate the necessity of suspending national and regional activities.
They also discouraged all division and district activities that involve gathering of various schools.
The order said, "Organizers are advised to seek the recommendation of local health authorities should the activities push through."