THE Department of Health (DOH) identified at least 329 areas in the country where limited face-to-face classes can already start..
In today’s budget hearing at the Senate, DOH spokesperson Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH already provided an amended list of areas for possible opening of schools.
She said the areas with low risks of contracting COVID-19 were the ones that were considered.
However, Vergeire clarified that it is still the Department of Education (DepEd) which will conduct the re-assessment and coordination with the local government units (LGUs) regarding face-to-face classes.
Relatedly, the Senate reiterated to the the DOH and the DepEd to fast-track the development of guidelines for the automatic reopening of classes once COVID-19 risk levels go down.