DepEd thumbs down COVID swab test for students: It ‘can be quite traumatic’

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MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday said students who will join the pilot face-to-face classes will not be required to undergo a coronavirus swab test.

This as DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said such a process “can be quite traumatic” for students.

“What we also know… undergoing it ourselves, the process of testing can be quite traumatic, especially ‘yung tutusukin ang ilong mo. It’s not the most pleasant experience,” she said in an online briefing.

DepEd Asec. Malcolm Garma echoed Briones’ remark, saying even the health department did not encourage swab testing for students.

“We cannot really imagine the small children undergoing the swab test kasi (because it’s) very traumatic, I mean even for us adults mahirap (it’s hard),” he said.

Garma said “usual protocols” will apply to symptomatic students.

“Automatic kapag nag-symptom ang bata, the usual protocol of isolation and contact tracing will be undertaken,” he said.

Garma also said vaccination against COVID-19 is not required for students joining the pilot in-person classes. But students aged 12-17 are “encouraged” to get the vaccine.

A total of 120 schools – 100 public schools and 20 private schools – will participate in the pilot face-to-face classes which will start on Monday, November 15. The participating schools are located in areas deemed as low-risk for coronavirus transmission as evaluated by the Department of Health.

The pilot in-person classes will include kindergarten, Grades 1-3, and senior high school.

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