Optional Masking in Class Raises Infection Fears - Inquirer News

11/4/22, 11:40 AM Optional masking in class raises infection fears | Inquirer News
Nov 4, 2022
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DOH LETTING DEPED DECIDE
Optional masking in class raises

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By: Jane Bautista, Kathleen de Villa - @inquirerdotnet Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:42 AM November 03, 2022
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Optional masking in class
raises infection fears
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MANILA, Philippines — Two government agencies differed on the optional TECHNOLOGY

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The Department of Health (DOH) distanced itself from the policy set by the
Department of Education (DepEd) that made the wearing of face masks
voluntary inside classrooms.
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“The DOH defers policy decisions to the DepEd with regard to the well-being Email Address SIGN ME UP
and safety of its students,” the agency said in a statement when sought for By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and
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comment about the new DepEd order.
“Should they pursue this, the optional use of face masks in schools is aligned You May Like Sponsored Links
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DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa told reporters on Tuesday that the agency
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person classes was orderly, with 94 percent of 827 public schools in Metro
Manila holding five-day face-to-face sessions per week.
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“We are still waiting for feedback from our regional directors so that we can
address any challenges they might have encountered,” he said.
The DOH stressed the need for “proper assessment of when to wear or not
wear masks” to ensure a stronger wall of immunity and prevent further
virus transmission especially in crowded settings such as classrooms
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1688611/optional-masking-in-class-raises-infection-fears 1/6
virus transmission, especially in crowded settings such as classrooms.
Nov 4, 2022
It said students and school personnel should take note of other “layers of
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such as sanitation, LIFESTYLE vaccination,
physical distancing, ENTERTAINMENT
and good TECHNOLOGY SPORTS OPINION
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On Oct. 28, the President issued EO No. 7 ahead of the mass gatherings in
the long weekend and the return of public school classes despite misgivings
from health experts. This follows EO No. 3 issued on Sept. 28 that first
allowed the voluntary wearing of masks outdoors.
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Vaccination
The DOH has yet to respond to queries on whether DepEd’s move would
merit a recommendation to give the first booster shot to children aged 5 to
11 years old.
DOH data as of Oct. 24 showed that less than half of the target population in
that age group — or only 5.2 million — had been fully vaccinated. Only 11.5
percent of the eligible teens aged 12 to 17 have received their first booster
dose.
Questioning the new DepEd policy, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers said
face masks would still be the students’ last line of defense since most
classrooms in public schools remain overcrowded and poorly ventilated,
and lacking in-house nurses and functional clinics.
“It is very irresponsible for the government to leave our schools in such a
state, and even more thoughtless to strip our students and teachers of the
last protection that we have, however insufficient it is,” the teachers’ group
said.
Benjo Basas, national chair of Teachers’ Dignity Coalition, echoed the same
sentiment, saying that the situation in schools is different from other indoor
environments because of the congested and not well-ventilated classrooms.
“Personally, I would advise my students to still wear their face masks since
that is their only protection. There are no available water and sanitation
facilities, impossible physical distancing so they should just wear their
masks inside the room,” he said.
Case count
According to the DOH data tracker, the country logged on Tuesday its lowest
daily of Covid-19 case tally in more than four months, with 676 new
infections recorded.
The number was the lowest since June 28, when there were 576 single-day
infections recorded nationwide. Active infections, or the number of people
currently ill with COVID-19, fell below the 20,000 mark after more than
three months.
Total cases in the country were pegged at 4,005,157, while the death toll
reached 64,109.
However, Dr. Tony Leachon, a former public health adviser to the

government, said that the declining numbers may be due to
“underreporting” since the results of rapid antigen tests were not included
in the official tally.
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Leachon said infections may jump to as much as 10,000 by the middle of

this month or next month.
The DOH said it was expecting a much higher number of cases — up to

18,000 — if the public would become complacent and ignore minimum
health protocols.
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11/4/22, 11:40 AM Optional masking in class raises infection fears | Inquirer News

NEWS GLOBAL NATION BUSINESS LIFESTYLE ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY SPORTS OPINION

DOH LETTING DEPED DECIDE

Optional masking in class raises

EDITORS' PICK MOST READ

MANILA, Philippines — Two government agencies differed on the optional TECHNOLOGY

This will be a real surprise for Filipinos.

However, Dr. Tony Leachon, a former public health adviser to the

Nov 4, 2022 Super Discount, 13 Years

Anern Get Quote

Leachon said infections may jump to as much as 10,000 by the middle of

The DOH said it was expecting a much higher number of cases — up to

This will be a real surprise for Filipinos.

Sell Your Condo Guaranteed in Metro Manila

Low-cost trading for everyone, everywhere.

2nd income chance for Philippines Citizens.

Commission-free US Share CFD Trading

31 Banned Movies That You Can Never See Again

NEWS GLOBAL NATION BUSINESS LIFESTYLE ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY SPORTS OPINION

Don't miss out on the latest news and information.

TAGS: COVID-19 optional mask police, COVID-19 pandemic, Department of

For feedback, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.

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NEWS GLOBAL NATION BUSINESS LIFESTYLE ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY SPORTS OPINION

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