Senior nursing students from the Medical Colleges of Northern Philippines man the booths designated for the COVID 19 task force designated for delegates of the 2020 National Schools Press Conference (NSPC). Photo: Carlo Jacob Molina/INQUIRER.net
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd)- Cagayan Valley region has activated a COVID-19 task force, as the city hosts the weeklong 2020 National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) as part of the heightened precautions to keep the new coronavirus at bay.
Dr. Cleofe Mary Jane Torres, team leader of the COVID-19 task force and medical officer in Tuguegarao City division, said in an interview that the task force will be stationed at all contest venues and billeting quarters to monitor all the delegates of the annual event.
Anchored on the theme “Empowering communities through campus journalism,” the NSPC will run from March 9 to 13.
“Lahat ng billeting schools, lalagyan siya. Starting today, ang gagawin na ay 24/7 duty na,” Torres said.
The team is comprised of more than a hundred volunteers and health personnel coming from the division office of Tuguegarao and other division offices in the region, senior nursing students from the Medical Colleges of Northern Philippines.
Torres also said the group has teamed up with the Philippine Red Cross and the Rescue 111 to prevent the spread of the contracting disease.
The medical expert reiterates the importance of handwashing, saying that all billeting schools are provided with alcohol and hand soaps.
Moreover, Torres urged the delegates to strengthen their immune system by drinking a lot of water and Vitamin C.
“And we do not advocate using of masks kung asymptomatic naman. Meaning, wala namang nararamdaman kasi even if you’re using masks, kung ang immune system mo ay mababa, kakapitan ka pa rin ng COVID infection,” she said.
Strict measures are being taken already at this year’s NSPC, considered the largest gathering of campus journalists from the country’s 17 regions.
These precautions include checking the body temperatures of all NSPC participants and the handing of rubbing alcohol and hand sanitizers at the entrance.
Delegates were also asked to sit one seat apart at the venue.