CHED: Less 1% of students in in-person classes contract coronavirus

MANILA, Philippines — Only less than 1% of students attending limited face-to-face classes have so far contracted COVID-19, proof that guidelines are “working,” Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairman Prospero De Vera said Tuesday.

De Vera did not specify how many students are currently attending limited in-person classes but noted that 118 public and private universities are conducting it.

So far, only medical and health-allied programs are allowed to have face-to-face classes.

“Out of all the students that are part of the limited face-to-face classes, the infection rate was very, very low. It is less than 1%, it is .03% of the students got infected. All of the students gumaling na, walang namatay. So that means, our guidelines are working,” he said in a televised public briefing.

(All of the students have recovered. No one died.)

De Vera noted that 76% of students and 95% of the faculty members have been vaccinated against severe respiratory disease.

“So we have another layer of protection for the students and faculty. Kaya medyo maganda iyong resulta ng limited face to face na pinayagan ng Pangulo,” he said.

(So we have another layer of protection for the students and faculty. So the limited face-to-face classes allowed by the President are so far good.)

CHED is looking to expand limited in-person classes to other degree programs that need “hands-on experience.”

De Vera said the agency has proposed to include engineering, maritime, and hotel and restaurant management courses and is awaiting approval from the President.

In March, De Vera said CHED would stop limited face-to-face classes if one student gets infected with COVID-19.