IATF urged to reopen schools in low COVID-19 areas

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker has called on the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to reopen colleges and senior high schools in areas with low risk of COVID-19 transmission.

But the government should retain other options such as homeschooling and online learning for parents who do not want to send their children to in-person classes.

Misamis Oriental Rep. Juliette Uy made the call as the government prepares for the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination this month, which will initially cover health-care workers.

“Schools are both education and economic entities. I ask the IATF to allow the gradual reopening of the campuses of colleges, universities and senior high school starting the coming summer term in modified general community quarantine areas, provided strict minimum health protocols are followed,” she said on Friday.

She pointed out that in-person college classes should be allowed “because the college students and faculty have long been within the age range of allowed persons outside of residence.”