DOH says PH ready for face-to-face classes despite rise in COVID-19 cases

FILE PHOTO: A teacher and her students learn together at the Pedro Cruz Elementary School in San Juan City as it reopened its face-to-face classes on Thursday, February 10, 2022. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The country is prepared for full face-to-face classes despite rising COVID-19 cases, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

The health official made the remark as she noted an increase in the daily COVID-19 cases and positivity rate in Metro Manila.

“Well, at this point that you ask me, right now, I can say that we are ready. Ma-sustain lang natin na ang mga kaso nga (We just have to sustain cases) like the ordinary flu — it’s just mild, asymptomatic,” Vergeire answered when asked on One News’ The Chiefs on Monday evening if the country is ready for full face-to-face classes by August.

“Right now, if you look at the classifications of our cases, most of these are mild and asymptomatic. ‘Yung (The) severe and critical natin, hindi pa ho talaga lumalaki (it’s not increasing yet). Although, there are cases of severe and critical but not that much,” she added.

READ: Metro Manila shows 71% COVID case increase, but situation ‘manageable’ — OCTA

Vergeire encouraged parents and guardians to have their children vaccinated before the conduct of in-person classes to protect them from the coronavirus.

“So, kung ganito lang po ang mangyayari, mama-manage po natin ito. We can prevent infections so that sana ma-encourage din natin ang mga magulang na bago mag-face-to-face ang mga bata, makapagpabakuna po ang mga bata so they are doubly protected,” she urged.

(So, if this happens, we can manage it. We can prevent infections. We encourage parents to get their children vaccinated before face-to-face classes start so children are doubly protected.)

According to Vergeire, average daily COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila jumped to 255 while the positivity rate swelled to 4.4 percent.

Latest data from the health department showed that the country recorded 529 fresh COVID-19 infections, driving the active cases to 4,740.

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