MANILA, Philippines – A student from private school in Cauayan City, Isabela was found to be COVID-19 positive after she attended face-to-face classes, Mayor Bernard Faustino Dy confirmed on Friday.
Mayor Dy also said that 45 other students were confirmed to have attended the face-to-face classes last week. Thirty-three people who were known to have had direct contact with the infected student, have already undergone swab tests.
Dy added that the COVID-19 student is now in an isolation facility as he/she experiences mild symptoms.
The Cagayan Provincial Information Office (CPIO) said the COVID-19 positive student was said to have a close contact with a city hall employee who was also tested positive.
The Cauayan City government, through lawyer Reina Santos, clarified that face-to-face classes are now allowed in their city ever since the province of Isabela was under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
It said this was in accordance with guidelines set forth by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).
Despite it, the city announced that they have shut down the operations of the private school as part of their precautionary measures.
"It’s a private school which is now temporarily closed din po,” a staff of the Cauayan city government said.
CHED to probe
Meanwhile, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said they will be coordinating with the local government of Cauayan City in conducting an investigation in the incident. According to CHED, the said private school was not allowed to conduct face-to-face classes and there were reports that it was done on a Sunday.
“Mayroon po kaming currently iniimbestigahan together with CHED dahil apparently nagkaroon ng face-to-face [class] but it was not a normal school time, parang Sunday yata ginawa ‘yon so ito’y parang remedial class,” Mayor Dy said.
"Hindi in-allow ng CHED that’s why iniimbestigahan po namin dahil umabot rin sa kanila ‘yong report at ‘yon nga po, walang pahintulot mula sa LGU or sa CHED,” he added.
If proven that violations were made, Mayor Dy said the school’s permit to operate might be revoked.
— Sally, The Summit Express
Mayor Dy also said that 45 other students were confirmed to have attended the face-to-face classes last week. Thirty-three people who were known to have had direct contact with the infected student, have already undergone swab tests.
Dy added that the COVID-19 student is now in an isolation facility as he/she experiences mild symptoms.
The Cagayan Provincial Information Office (CPIO) said the COVID-19 positive student was said to have a close contact with a city hall employee who was also tested positive.
The Cauayan City government, through lawyer Reina Santos, clarified that face-to-face classes are now allowed in their city ever since the province of Isabela was under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
It said this was in accordance with guidelines set forth by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).
Despite it, the city announced that they have shut down the operations of the private school as part of their precautionary measures.
"It’s a private school which is now temporarily closed din po,” a staff of the Cauayan city government said.
CHED to probe
Meanwhile, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said they will be coordinating with the local government of Cauayan City in conducting an investigation in the incident. According to CHED, the said private school was not allowed to conduct face-to-face classes and there were reports that it was done on a Sunday.
“Mayroon po kaming currently iniimbestigahan together with CHED dahil apparently nagkaroon ng face-to-face [class] but it was not a normal school time, parang Sunday yata ginawa ‘yon so ito’y parang remedial class,” Mayor Dy said.
"Hindi in-allow ng CHED that’s why iniimbestigahan po namin dahil umabot rin sa kanila ‘yong report at ‘yon nga po, walang pahintulot mula sa LGU or sa CHED,” he added.
If proven that violations were made, Mayor Dy said the school’s permit to operate might be revoked.
— Sally, The Summit Express
