Classes in Cotabato university shift online as COVID-19 hits 13 students  

KIDAPAWAN CITY – The state-run University of Southern Mindanao (USM) in Kabacan town, Cotabato province has temporarily shifted to online classes after 13 of its students contracted COVID-19.

The measure was adopted for 10 days starting last Aug. 17, upon the recommendation of USM vice president for academic affairs Geoffray Atok.

Atok noted that eight of those infected are College of Nursing students and five are from the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The nursing students had been regularly reporting for classes but several days ago, 11 of them were admitted at a local hospital after complaining of various ailments. Of the 11, eight tested positive for coronavirus infection.

Atok said they are worried that the infection could spread up to 30 percent of the students’ contacts hence the temporary shift to online classes in order to lower the chances of the virus’ transmission.

Atok said that deans of colleges have been advised to disinfect their classrooms and facilities before the blended learning modality—-which combines online and in-person classes—-resumes on Aug. 30, and to closely monitor the health status of their students.

USM has at around 13,000 students in its main campus in Kabacan, according to university president Francisco Gil Garcia.

Garcia clarified that they are not implementing a campus lockdown due to the spike of COVID-19 cases.

“Our school campus is still open with some restrictions in some areas near the Nursing and Veterinary Medicine premises,” Garcia explained.

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