NOVEL Coronavirus – Acute Respiratory Disease (nCoV-ARD) threat is now treated as a serious concern by the Department of Education (DepEd) as the department headed by Secretary Leonor M. Briones issued DepEd Memorandum No. 11, s. 2020 that spelled out DepEd’s proactive stance against the virus that is now widely spreading in several countries and some parts of the Philippines.
With this, the Department of Education has suspended momentarily national and regional contests for students in February amid the risk caused by the novel coronavirus. Upon the advice of the Department of Health (DOH), all national and regional activities involving learners and/or teachers requiring travel and congregation of various schools, divisions, and/or regions are suspended.
Included in the suspension are the following events supposed to be conducted in February like National Science and Technology Fair in Manila, National Schools Press Conference in Tuguegarao, Cagayan and National Festival of Talents in Ilagan, Isabela, all are scheduled this January.
As part of the memorandum, all off-campus activities such as field trips are also suspended and gatherings of schools in division and district activities are highly discouraged.
However, DepEd clarified that only events in February will be indefinitely suspended while the Palarong Pambansa which will happen in May, 2020 in Marikina City is not covered by the suspension.
Consequently, Sec. Briones also revoked official travel of DepEd personnel and learners in February to countries with confirmed cases of nCoV and reiterated the presidential directive banning travel to the People’s Republic of China and its special administrative regions Hong Kong and Macau.
As what is being done to OFWs and travelers abroad, those returning to work and school from travel abroad are told to comply with quarantine procedures.
DepEd pointed out that it will periodically evaluate the necessity of suspending such national and regional activities, and shall, every Monday and/or when the need arises, announce whether such suspension shall continue, depending on the development of the situation and upon the advice of the DOH.
To further beef up its contribution to the effective management of the spread of the virus, Briones earlier ordered the creation of the Task Force for the Management of DepEd Response to nCoV where it is expected that it stands ready to contribute to overall government efforts for the management of this public health situation.
The task force which is composed of a policy group and an operations group led by DepEd’s assistant secretary for administration is expected to lead all efforts within the school system by formulating policies and developing strategies and action plans.
Numerous flyers, information drives and other forms of media blitz from central to schools and learning centers are currently being distributed and shared in various social media platforms to capture as much audience as possible and be educated on how to counter this threat.
This Corner hopes that all stakeholders will play their part to abate further serious damage this disease may bring if one or two sectors will not cooperate. The length of time we have to spend for this depends on how we as global citizens can easily manage the contamination of the virus.