President Rodrigo Duterte withdrew his earlier decision to allow limited face-to-face classes in low-risk areas due to the emerging new variant of the coronavirus disease.
The Department of Education was already preparing for a dry run, but Duterte ordered Education Sec. Leonor Briones to suspend it.
“I’m calling back the order. I will not allow face-to-face classes of children until we are through with this . . . The nature of the germ we are confronting,” Duterte said.
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The President added that physical classes may endanger the lives of students.
“I am canceling the order I gave few days ago, few weeks ago to Sec. Briones of the Education Department to suspend everything, all activities of children especially face-to-face classes,” he said.
Former COVID-19 task force adviser Tony Leachon warns about the new variant of COVID-19.
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“Iyan ay variant B117. Bago siyang strain na 52% ang admittance sa UK. At highly transmissible, 50-70%, so ibig sabihin more contagious. Nagcause ng travel ban sa Europe, Canada, sa HK, sa atin dito,” Leachon said.
“Kakaiba ang profile ng mga pasyente nito. Less than 60, asymptomatic, sila yung gala ng gala. So mas madaling makahawa ngayon,” he added. (TDT)
