THE Department of Education (DepEd) yesterday said no student, teacher or non-teaching staff was reported to have contracted the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) since the resumption of face-to-face classes last August 22.
“After verifying with our field offices, wala pong tinamaan na estudyante, teacher at non-teaching staff ng COVID since the start of classes,” DepEd spokesperson Michael Tan Poa said in a press briefing.
Poa said they are still closely monitoring the situation in coordination with local officials and the Department of Health to ensure the safety of students, teachers and non-teaching staff and that health protocols, such as the wearing of face masks, are being strictly enforced in schools across the country.
At the same time, the official said they are updating the DepEd’s Learner Information System on the number of vaccinated and unvaccinated students, teachers, and non-teaching staff.
Last August 19, the DepEd said only 19 percent of enrolled learners are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as per records of the DOH.
Poa attributed the low vaccination rate to the government’s vaccination program against the coronavirus being non-mandatory.
On the other hand, vaccination rate among teaching and non-teaching personnel is at 92 percent.
The DepEd has earlier announced that it will conduct mobile vaccination in schools to increase the vaccination rate among children. The program will be coupled with counseling to encourage kids to get jabbed against the virus.
The Supreme Court, in a circular, yesterday said all courts and judicial offices in the country will already be “fully operational” with a “100 percent” work force from September 1 until 15.
The circular issued by Court Administrator Raul Villanueva covers operations of courts and judicial offices in areas under Alert Levels 1 or 2 and higher.
The SC is also operating on a 100 percent on-site working capacity.
Aside from being fully operational, the circular also allowed night courts to operate in areas “where these has been organized or required.”
Personal filing and follow-up of cases are now also permitted, subject to compliance to strict health protocols.
“Again, priority will be given to in-court or face-to-face hearings. Raffle of cases in multi-sala stations should also be in person,” the circular said even as it said courts have the discretion to conduct videoconferencing hearings.
Meanwhile, the Court of Appeals and the Court of Tax Appeals also said that all its stations, offices, services, divisions, and units will have a 100 percent on-site working capacity during the same period.
