Bicol ‘Palaro’ moved indefinitely to prevent, control nCoV spread

DAET, Camarines Norte –– School heads here have postponed this year’s Palarong Bicol, originally set on February 29 to March 6, at an indefinite date to allow the Department of Education (DepEd) more time to prepare for measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (nCoV).

The postponement was in response to the DepEd memorandum 15 released Feb. 4. The 21-page memo signed by DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones listed the first set of policy directives for the department’s Task Force NCoV to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.

The Bicol region is nCoV-free.

Camarines Norte Schools Division Superintendent Nympha Guemo said Bicol DepEd Director Gilbert Sadsad requested the event to be moved to March 5, while a letter from Sorsogon Governor Francis Escudero requested for the event to be moved to April.

In the memo’s second enclosure, national and regional events, for which students and teachers require travel, are suspended to prevent and control the nCoV in schools and offices.

“However, I was told by the director that we may meet halfway, so the tentative schedule is on the last week of March,” Guemo told Inquirer. “They are still finalizing the date because there are so many things to consider.”

She said 22 nurses from Daet would be deployed for the Palaro, but they have requested each delegation to bring dental and medical staff for the expected 5,000 participants from all over the region.

“We cannot give the assurance that all the athletes will be free of the virus, but since there are nurses and medical staff, we remind them that if there are [students with] coughs or headaches, they should approach health officers immediately,” she said.

She added that athletes would be constantly reminded of proper sanitation, and those working on the preparation of food would be asked to keep the plates, glasses, and utensils covered.

The memo also mandated the formation or activation of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Teams in regional offices, school division offices, and public schools to respond to public health concerns.

DepEd will have regular Monday meetings to discuss the necessity of suspending events, or if the suspension shall be lifted.

Edited by LZB