Teachers want two-week ‘health break’ in areas under COVID-19 Alert Level 3

FILE PHOTO: Parents and teachers observe minimum health standards at the distribution of learning packets to students of Doña Rosario High School in Novaliches Proper, Quezon City, on Wednesday, September 30, 2021, prior to the opening of classes on October 5, as the DepED shifted to distance learning due to the pandemic. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) on Tuesday called for a two-week “health break” after a survey found that more than 50 percent of teachers in Metro Manila have flu-like symptoms.

ACT General Secretary Raymond Basilio said many of the teachers have been sick since January 1, and the survey conducted by ACT-Metro Manila chapter supports this claim.

“Teachers and students alike are struggling to keep holding classes amid this Omicron-driven surge. Either we’re sick or we’re taking care of family members who are. It’s only humane to give all of us a break amid this outbreak if only to allow us to recover,” Basilio said in a statement.

The Google Form survey revealed that 55.4 percent of teachers-respondents in Metro Manila show flu-like symptoms. It also revealed that 15.8 percent of teachers have a fever, 44.6 percent have a cough, and 46.8 have colds.

Despite their symptoms, the majority, or 84.7 percent, of respondents said they are still teaching or doing their duty online.

The majority or 90.8 percent of teachers surveyed said they want to have a “health break” to recuperate.

“The 14-day health break will provide us with enough time to recuperate from whatever symptoms our teachers and students are experiencing at the moment,” Basilio noted.

As of this writing, the group said 8,007 teachers in Metro Manila were included in the survey which started on Monday and is still ongoing.

Metro Manila has been placed on Alert Level 3 until January 15 in light of notable increases in new COVID-19 cases.

Pandemic monitor OCTA Research said Metro Manila is currently in a “severe outbreak” of new coronavirus infections.

The country recorded another all-time high COVID-19 infection on Monday at 33,169, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

In total, the Philippines confirmed the coronavirus infection of 2,998,530 people. As of January 10, COVID-19 active cases nationwide stood at 157,526.

KGA