The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday issued DepEd Memo No. 21 series of 2020 or the Second Set of Policy Directives of the DepEd Task Force nCoV (COVID-19) that allowed its local officials to declare suspension of classes as a preventive measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus – especially in areas where there are confirmed cases of the COVID-19.
DepEd Undersecretary Alain Pascua said that the memo signed by Education Secretary Leonor Briones on February 12, cites the conditions when classes can be suspended by the school principal, division superintendent and/or regional director, in coordination with their respective local government units (LGUs) and health authorities.
Data from Department of Health (DOH) COVID-19 tracker as of Feb. 12, 12:00 noon showed that there are 238 persons under investigation (PUIs) currently admitted in hospitals for possible infection. To date, the Philippines has three confirmed cases of COVID-19 involving Chinese nationals from Wuhan, China. The country has also recorded one death that of a 44-year old Chinese man due to COVID-19. Two others – a 38-year-old woman and 60-year-old woman who are both Chinese – have reportedly recovered from the respiratory infection.
