2 Zambales schools postpone in-person classes after 7 teachers test positive for COVID-19

Although the Baliwet Elementary School in San Marcelino town, Zambales was prepared to resume in-person classes, the pilot run had to be postponed Monday after five of its teaching staff tested positive for COVID-19 based on their rapid antigen tests. (Photo courtesy of San Marcelino Public Information)

SAN MARCELINO, Zambales––The first in-person classes supposed to take place Monday in two schools in this town have been canceled after seven teachers contracted COVID-19, an official said Sunday.

John Abordo, principal of the San Marcelino National High School, said two of their teaching staff tested positive after taking rapid antigen tests.

Abordo said the teachers had been isolated at a quarantine facility here. Six Grade 11 pupils and three Grade 12 students will need to wait until their teachers are cleared of COVID-19 before their pilot classes are allowed to proceed.

The town’s public high school is among the 10 chosen by the Department of Education (DepEd) for the pilot implementation of physical classroom lessons with a select number of pupils.

In the Baliwet Elementary School, five teachers also tested positive for COVID-19 based on their rapid antigen tests ahead of the resumption of face-to-face classes, which prompted the school officials to suspend the pilot run.

Limited face-to-face classes resumed Monday in Banawen Elementary School in San Felipe town.

Also resuming classes were the Belbel Elementary School, the Maguisguis Integrated School, the Nacolcol Integrated School, the Owaog-Nebloc Elementary School, Moraza Elementary School, and the Palis Integrated School, all in Botolan town.

DepEd said these schools were among the 28 in Luzon that passed a granular risk assessment and were classified as minimal or low risk for COVID-19 spread.

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