Department of Education: Contingency Plan On Reclosing and Reopening The School in Case of COVID-19 Occurrence

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Contingency Plan on
Reclosing and Reopening the School
in case of COVID-19 Occurrence
INTRODUCTION
In the midst of pandemic, Meycauayan National High School took several

educational steps to continue quality education following the health protocols by
considering the rapid increase of COVID-19 active cases in Meycauayan City. In the
past school year 2020-2021, the modality of providing teaching and learning started
to shift from face-to-face classes to distance learning. However, the Department of
Education took some substantial actions in continuing education with enhanced
and strict compliance and adherence to the public health measures imposed by the
Department of Health (DOH) and the Inter-Agency Task Force for COVID Response
(IATF).
Given the new downward trend of COVID-19 infection in the country, DepEd
is currently in the move of reopening the schools for face-to-face classes by
conducting a pilot run of face-to-face classes in the selected and nominated schools
in the country. In pursuant to DepEd Memorandum No. 071, s. 2021 issued last
October 18, 2021 entitled Preparation for the Pilot Face-to-Face, Expansion and
Transitioning to the New Normal, the school immediately proceeded in making a
decision model and contingency plan for reclosing and reopening the school in case
of COVID-l9 resurgence in the community.
During school reopening phases, it is important to note that schools may need
to partially close and re-open more than once, depending on the prevailing intensity
of COVID-19 transmission within a distinctive administrative and epidemiological
unit (e.g. municipal or barangay), as well as on the overall public health situation in
the country, locality and/or community. The measures for school re-opening are
intended to support the implementation of existing measures to enable, monitor and
sustain the return to school as equitable and ensuring high-quality education while
Address: Camalig, City of Meycauayan, Bulacan

Telephone No. (044)913-0664
Email Address: meycauayannhs@gmail.com/300757.meyc@deped.gov.ph
safeguarding students’ health and well-being. Preparations for COVID-19

resurgences are intended to both support and prepare schools by designing plans
and protocols for continuing education, and providing training in anticipation of
potential resurgences that might result in school closure being decided by national
and/or local authorities. In this context “resurgence” refers to the occurrence of an
increase in COVID-19 transmission and/or prevalence of COVID-19-related illness
or hospitalizations following a period of cessation or interruption. For instance, this
might occur after relaxation of policies to restrict movements or social contacts,
resulting in further waves of the pandemic.
OBJECTIVES
Guided by national and local governments, measures to guarantee safe

operation and learning conditions help to minimize and prevent the spread of
coronavirus among school communities. The timing and approach to school re-
opening following closure is both complex and sensitive; it should be driven by data
and the safety measures in place, as well as by the concerns of students, parents,
caregivers and teachers. Enhancing compliance with public health measures is
influenced by the active engagement of concerned stakeholders – e.g. students,
parents, caregivers – in decisions that affect their lives, families, safety and
education.
All plans and measures to re-open schools safely should aim to reduce
inequalities and improve educational conditions and health outcomes for the most
vulnerable. To achieve this aim, school return campaigns should diversify
communication and outreach specifically to target vulnerable children, including
those with disabilities or special learning needs. They should also account for the
needs of staff and teachers. It is crucial for schools-related policies and programs to
consider the challenges facing the most vulnerable in accessing services in
education and health.
The contingency plan is also aligned with, and build upon the existing COVID-
19-related WHO guidelines 9, 10, 11, 12 and is structured around protective
measures related to: 1) hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette; 2) physical
distancing; 3) use of masks in schools; 4) environmental cleaning and ventilation; and
5) respecting procedures for isolation of all people with symptoms.

COVID-19 Contingency Plan Task Force/Response Team

INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SCHOOL TEAM
INCIDENT TASK FORCE RESPONSE TEAM
*The contingency plan for re-closing and re-opening the school in case of COVID-19 resurgence will be monitored
by the Incident Management School Team and the Incident Task Force Response Team which are solely
dependent on the assessment and decision model conducted by the Local Task Force against COVID-19 (LTF).
*Working alongside with different area representative of Meycauayan National High School and its functions are
enable through swift action and throughout the organization.

The school is adhering to the locally and nationally imposed health protocols and
risk reduction assessment. In line with this, the school guarantees safe operation
and the learning conditions of teaching and non-teaching personnel and the
learners, respectively. This will minimize the spread of current corona virus among
school facilities and to its community. To avoid further transmission of severe acute
respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), we are highly dependent on the
decision model that is data-driven, conducted through the concerns of our
stakeholders such as students, parents, physicians and teachers. We also have to
follow the safety measures implemented by our city health office before making any
point of complex decision for school reclosing and reopening the class in case of
COVID-19 resurgence.

CONTIGENCY PLAN FOR REOPENING AND RECLOSING
REOPENING
Tracking (Students/Teaching/Non-
Teaching Staff)
PHASE I: Preparation of the School Facilities
Implementation of return to Ventilation of Classrooms
school/work policies Physical Classroom Layout
Number of Learners per classroom
Preparation Essential Supplies
Self-Reporting
PHASE II:
Health Declaration/ Contact Tracing
Face-To-Face Classes
Form
Monitoring Of Students,
Imposition of stricter minimum health
Teaching and Non-Teaching
protocols
Staff)
Disinfection of School Facilities
RECLOSING
a. Report of positive cases

PHASE III: b. Identification/Detection of
Implementation of Granular suspect, probable or confirmed.
lockdown c. Disinfection of School Facilities

PHASE RESPONSE CONTINGENCY PLAN RESPONSIBLE
a. Tracking -to ensure the safety of

(Students/Teachin face-to-face classes, all
g/Non-Teaching returning students,
Staffs) teachers and non-
teaching staff shall
submit the following;
a. Negative result on
any Covid-19 testing
b. Certificate of
Vaccination
c. Health Declaration
Form
 For close
contacts: i. For
fully vaccinated
PHASE 1:
individuals:
Seven (7)-day
Implementation of quarantine has TASK FORCE RESPONSE
Return to School been completed TEAM
Work Policies regardless of
negative test
result ii. For
unvaccinated or
with incomplete
vaccination:
Fourteen (14)-
day quarantine
has been
completed
regardless of
negative test
result
 For suspect,
probable or
confirmed

cases, whether
fully vaccinated,
unvaccinated,
or with
incomplete
vaccination: i.
For asl,
rnptomatic: Ten
(10)-day
isolation have
passed from the
fust viral
diagtostic test
and remained
asymptomatic
throughout
their infection.
ii. For mild to
moderate
COVID-19
confirmed
cases: Ten (10)-
day isolation
have passed
from onset of
the first
symptom,
resPiratory
symPtoms have
improved
(cough,
shortness of
breath), AND
have been
afebrile for at
]east 24 hours
without use of
antipl'retic
medications. iii.
For severe and
critical COWD-
19 confirmed
cases: Twenty-
one (21)-day
isolation has

passed from
onset of the first
symptom,
respiratory
symptoms have
improved
(cough,
shortness of
breath) AND
have been
afebrile for at
least 24 hours
without the use
of antipyretic
medications. iv.
for
immunocompro
mised, do RT-
PCR testing on
the 10th day. If
RT-PCR test
results tum out
positive, refer to
Infectious
Disease
Specialist. If RT-
PCR test results
turn out
negative
discharge from
isolation. No
Medical
certification or
repeat testing is
not necessary
for the safe
return to work
of
immunocompet
ent individuals,
provided that a
licensed medical
doctor certifies
or clears the
patient.

b. Preparation Of Cleaning/disinfecting/
School Facilities sanitizing of rooms,
labs, comfort rooms
and offices.
-Posting signages for
students’ guide
whenever they are at
school
c. Ventilation Of -School teachers and

Classrooms maintenance officer
will clean and ensure
the classroom is ready
on a daily basis.
d. Physical
Classroom Layout -The layout of the
classroom will follow
safety protocols such
as social distancing
and ensure all
participants in the
classroom are wearing
protective gears like
facemask, face shield
and the like.
e. Number of -20 students and 1

Population teacher only are
allowed inside the
classroom.

f. Stocks Of -The school have

Essential Supplies stocks of supplies
needed for disinfection
to avoid virus like
sanitizers, soap,
alcohols, face mask
face shield.
-all students, teaching
and non-teaching
staffs shall submit
health declaration and
contact tracing forms
for monitoring.
Self-Reporting
a. Health
PHASE 2: -persons who feel or
Declaration Form
experiencing
symptoms of virus
Face to Face b. Imposition of
shall report
Classes Stricter Health TASK FORCE RESPONSE
immediately to the
Monitoring of Protocols TEAM
school clinician officer
Students, Teaching
and Non-teaching - the school shall
Staff c. Disinfection of
ensure adherence of all
School Facilities
participants to the
imposed minimum
health protocols.
- school janitors are to

disinfect the facilities
from time to time.
Once a case is
a. Report of positive detected in the school,
cases the following should
apply:
PHASE 3: b. Identification/Det a. School clinician will

ection of suspect, be asked to investigate TASK FORCE RESPONSE
Implementation of probable or when the first TEAM
Granular lockdown confirmed. confirmed covid-19
case. Cases should be
isolated and contacts
quarantined in
accordance with

national public health

guidance.
c. Disinfection of School b. The Task Force

Facilities Response Team
working with the public
health authority will
contact all known close
and casual school
contacts of a primary
case(s) identified by the
school and invite them
to participate in the
investigation. Any
contact with clinical
symptoms within 14
days of the last
exposure/contact with
the primary case(s)
should be considered a
suspected case.
c. Disseminate
information on hygiene
and cleaning protocols
to school staff and
students.


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Republic of the Philippines

In the midst of pandemic, Meycauayan National High School took several

Address: Camalig, City of Meycauayan, Bulacan

safeguarding students’ health and well-being. Preparations for COVID-19

Guided by national and local governments, measures to guarantee safe

Address: Camalig, City of Meycauayan, Bulacan

COVID-19 Contingency Plan Task Force/Response Team

INCIDENT TASK FORCE RESPONSE TEAM

Address: Camalig, City of Meycauayan, Bulacan

Address: Camalig, City of Meycauayan, Bulacan

CONTIGENCY PLAN FOR REOPENING AND RECLOSING

a. Report of positive cases

Address: Camalig, City of Meycauayan, Bulacan

PHASE RESPONSE CONTINGENCY PLAN RESPONSIBLE

a. Tracking -to ensure the safety of

Address: Camalig, City of Meycauayan, Bulacan

Address: Camalig, City of Meycauayan, Bulacan

Address: Camalig, City of Meycauayan, Bulacan

c. Ventilation Of -School teachers and

e. Number of -20 students and 1

Address: Camalig, City of Meycauayan, Bulacan

f. Stocks Of -The school have

- school janitors are to

PHASE 3: b. Identification/Det a. School clinician will

Address: Camalig, City of Meycauayan, Bulacan

national public health

c. Disinfection of School b. The Task Force

Address: Camalig, City of Meycauayan, Bulacan

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