Duterte withdraws order to bring back face-to-face classes, cites concern over new COVID strain

Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBN News

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday took back his order to carry out the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes for January 2021, following the discovery of a new strain of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom.The implementation was planned for schools in areas with low risk of COVID-19 transmission.The Department of Education was already preparing for a dry run, but Duterte ordered Education Sec. Leonor Briones to suspend it.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/14/20/duterte-allows-dry-run-of-face-to-face-classes-in-select-schools-in-january">Duterte allows dry run of face-to-face classes in select schools in January</a></li></ul>&quot;I&#x27;m calling back the order,&quot; the President in a public briefing Saturday.&quot;I will not allow face-to-face classes of children until we are through with this . . . The nature of the germ we are confronting.&quot;Duterte said the government could be putting students in danger, if they let them go to class.&quot;I am cancelling the order I gave few days ago, few weeks ago to Sec. Briones of the Education Department to suspend everything, all activities of children especially face-to-face classes,&quot; he said.In an earlier interview, meanwhile, Dr. Tony Leachon, a public health advocate and former member of the national COVID-19 mitigation task force, said the new strain has forced governments to enforce travel restrictions in and out of the United Kingdom.&quot;Iyan ay variant B117. Bago siyang strain na 52% ang admittance sa UK. At highly transmissible, 50-70%, so ibig sabihin more contagious. Nagcause ng travel ban sa Europe, Canada, sa HK, sa atin dito,&quot; Leachon said in an interview on Teleradyo.&quot;Kakaiba ang profile ng mga pasyente nito. Less than 60, asymptomatic, sila yung gala ng gala. So mas madaling makahawa ngayon. &quot;Mas maraming mahahawa, that will lead to more hospitalizaton and admission and therefore, madadali ngayon ang vulnerable segment and will actually cause more deaths.&quot;<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0haA_Kkj65A?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

Duterte Saturday took back his order to carry out the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes for January 2021, following the discovery of a new strain of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom.

Duterte Saturday took back his order to carry out the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes for January 2021, following the discovery of a new strain of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom.

Duterte withdraws order to bring back face-to-face classes, cites concern over new COVID strain | ABS-CBN

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Duterte withdraws order to bring back face-to-face classes, cites concern over new COVID strain

Duterte withdraws order to bring back face-to-face classes, cites concern over new COVID strain

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 26, 2020 07:02 PM PHT

|

Updated Dec 26, 2020 11:15 PM PHT

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COVID-19

COVID-19 pandemic

President Duterte

UK

United Kingdom

face-to-face classes

Duterte

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