Face-to-face classes policy stays despite detection of XBB virus subvariant – DepEd

FILE PHOTO: Students and teachers at the General Roxas Elementary School in Quezon City conduct a dry run of face-to-face class in this photo taken on February 8, 2022, to familiarize the students with the new rules in the conduct of classroom learning in the time of the pandemic. Since last year, the Department of Education (DepED) has authorized its regional units to start the “progressive expansion phase” of limited in-person classes. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) said Wednesday that its policy on face-to-face classes remains despite the detection of the XBB Omicron subvariant in the country.

DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said they are waiting for the Department of Health’s (DOH) advice on the matter.

“Sa ngayon, wala pa tayong advice on any change. Tayo naman sa DepEd, we’ll always take our cue from the advice given by the DOH pagdating sa mga health guidelines or health concerns,” Poa said in a public briefing when asked if the full rollout of in-person classes will have changes.

(For now, we don’t have any advice yet on any change. But, in the DepEd, we’ll always take our cue from the advice the DOH gave when it comes to health guidelines or health concerns.)

“Sa ngayon, wala pa tayong pagbabago na maanunsyo doon sa amendatory Department Order na na-issue natin just two days ago,” he added.

(For now, we don’t have any changes to announce on the amendatory Department Order that was issued two days ago.)

Poa was referring to Department Order No. 44, which allowed private schools to keep using blended or full-distance learning beyond November 2.

This amendment to Department Order No. 34 mandated public and private schools to implement full five-day face-to-face classes starting November 2.

On Tuesday, the DOH said 81 cases of the “highly immune-evasive” XBB subvariant have been detected in two regions of the Philippines.

The new XBB Omicron subvariant is believed to be highly immune-evasive as people with antibodies against COVID-19 could still acquire it. The XBB subvariant is also a recombinant of BJ.1 (BA.2.10.1 sublineage) and BM.1.1.1 (BA.2.75 sublineage).

READ: Philippines detects 81 COVID-19 cases of new XBB Omicron subvariant – DOH

According to DOH officer-in-charge and Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire, the symptoms of the XBB subvariant are similar to that of other Omicron subvariants.

Also on Tuesday, the DOH said it likewise detected 193 coronavirus cases of XBC Omicron subvariant in 11 regions.

KGA/abc