In-person classes in Metro Manila suspended starting Jan. 3

(FILE) With face masks on, Grade 3 pupils at Comembo Elementary School in Makati City ease back into their usual classroom activities during a “simulation” of in-person classes, after almost two years of missing each other and their teachers. —RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — The mayors of Metro Manila on Sunday ordered the suspension of face-to-face or in-person classes in Metro Manila starting Jan. 3, after the region was placed under a stricter alert level, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.

The order came after a meeting between the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Metro Manila mayors, said the MMDA.

According to MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos, the suspension of in-person classes comes after Metro Manila was placed under stricter Alert Level 3 status starting Monday, Jan. 3, until Jan. 15.

Meanwhile, the DepEd in a separate statement confirmed the cancellation of the face-to-face classes in compliance with the Alert Level 3 protocols.

“DepEd confirms that the Pilot Face to Face classes for basic education are deferred until the alert level reverts to Level 2,” said the DepEd in an advisory.

“It must be noted that the Pilot Face to Face classes ended last December and the only ones affected will be those included in the expansion phase,” it added.

The expanded phase of the in-person classes was supposed to cover all grade levels from Kinder to Grade 12.

The country is currently experiencing an exponential rise in COVID-19 cases, the number of cases involving the Omicron variant of concern has also increased.

The Department of Health earlier logged 4,600 new cases nationwide, the highest since Oct. 24, bringing total cases to 2,851,931.

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