• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Students, teachers, and other school personnel with signs and symptoms of conjunctivitis, or sore eyes, are discouraged from going to school, with the resumption of classes today, Aug. 10, in Negros Oriental, Governor Chaco Sagarbarria said.
In Executive Order 50-A, Sagarbarria urged parents and guardians not to send learners to school if they continue to exhibit red eyes, eye discharge, excessive tearing, eye pain, or eye irritation.
“Teaching and non-teaching personnel, who are symptomatic, are likewise strongly advised not to report physically for work,” he added. “School heads, teachers, and school personnel are directed to exercise reasonable vigilance in identifying learners, who appear symptomatic with conjunctivitis, to promptly inform the parent or guardian concerned, and to recommend appropriate medical assessment or consultation.”
The EO released Aug. 8 is a supplemental order reinforcing public health measures for the safe resumption of school today, after Sagarbarria suspended in-person classes Aug. 7 so that disinfection and sanitation activities can be implemented amid the increasing cases of sore eyes in the province.
The Provincial Health Office (PHO) said that sore eyes, a highly-contagious infection, continued to spread in Negros Oriental, with cases reaching 7,978, as of Aug. 7.
Cases in Dumaguete reached 3,163, while Bayawan City accounted for the highest number of cases outside the capital, with 2,003 infections, the PHO said in a Philippine News Agency report.
Sagarbarria also ordered all schools to sustain routine cleaning and disinfection of classrooms, comfort rooms, clinics, learning materials, and other frequently-touched surfaces as part of regular infection prevention and control measures. “School heads should immediately report any clustering or unusual increase in conjunctivitis cases to their respective primary care facility and to the Integrated Provincial Health Office”. | CGC
