MANILA (UCAN): Authorities in the Philippines shut down schools and colleges from January 16 to 31 as part of what they called a “health break” in response to surging Covid-19 infection levels. People engaged in non-essential government work have also been told to stay at home amid a surge that saw almost 34,000 new cases on January 13.
Manila City, headed by presidential candidate, “Isko” Moreno Domagoso, was the first to issue the suspension order “to give students and workers time to rest.”
Domagoso said on January 13, “There will be no classes or working, even online, to have a health break. Anxiety levels [due to Covid concerns] will be lessened.” The order also resulted in the suspension of classes in major universities in Manila.
Authorities elsewhere, such as in the province of Bataan, near Manila, followed suit.
The Department of Education likewise suspended classes in elementary and other schools to protect teachers and staff from the surge.
It also ordered “necessary adjustments” to the school calendar to complete the mandatory number of education days in the year.
The move was welcomed by teachers who thanked the authorities for considering not only the physical but the mental health of teachers during the pandemic.
“Many of our teachers have been sick since the new year started; like the rest of the country, it seems. Nearly every household we know has a sick member in it. Teachers and students alike are struggling to keep holding classes amid this Omicron-driven surge. Either we’re sick or we’re taking care of family members who are. It’s only humane to give all of us a break amid this outbreak, if only to allow us to recover,” said Raymond Basilio, secretary-general of a group called the Alliance of Concerned Teachers.
Meanwhile, the Diocese of Novaliches Philippines left it to parishes to decide whether to shut church doors in the face of rising infections.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
“Placing parish churches on lockdown should now become the responsibility of parish pastors and administrators … this should be done as a last resort and in response to grave threats to people’s health and safety,” said Bishop Roberto Gaa on January 12.
