A private school in Cauayan, Isabela is under investigation after one of its students tested positive for COVID-19 following a resumption of face-to-face classes in the educational institution.
According to news outlets, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has issued a show cause order against Isabela Colleges, Inc. after the higher educational institution admitted that they had resumed Saturday classes since August. The classes were allegedly orientation sessions for the students, reported The Manila Times.
The student who tested positive for the virus had attended an orientation for students enrolled in a second degree last August 29, 2020. The student is an employee of the local government unit of the city of Cauayan and taking professional education courses in Isabela Colleges, according to CHED.
In a report by Manila Bulletin, the student was said to have had close contact with a COVID-positive city hall employee.
CHED is already tracing up to 45 individuals that the student interacted with following the incident.
Are face-to-face classes allowed in MGCQ areas?
The Cauayan City government, through lawyer Reina Santos, said in a statement that face-to-face classes in the city was allowed after the province of Isabela was placed under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ). It added that this complies with the guidelines released by the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on COVID-19.
But according to CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera III, “The CHED Advisories have consistently advised HEIs to refrain from conducting face-to-face or in-person classes or mass gatherings in their campuses,” reports Rappler.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW"The CHED has not issued any policy to allow face-to-face classes and the IATF clearly states that limited face-to-face classes in low-risk MGCQ areas must comply with CHED guidelines," De Vera added.
In a statement posted on its Facebook page, Isabela Colleges clarified that the orientation it conducted on August 29 was also the day the instructor distributed learning modules.
The college also said that the student is an employee is an employee of a Rural Health Unit and a frontliner.
“She is already identified as PUI (person under investigation) and scheduled for swab testing and yet she still attended the said orientation and distribution of modules,” the statement read.
Following the show cause order, Isabela Colleges was given 10 days to explain why no sanctions have been imposed on its officials after failing to comply with CHED’s advisories. The school is also now temporarily closed, according to a staff of the Cauayan City government.
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