Around 3,900 Covid-19 infections were logged in schools across the Philippines since September, the Department of Health (DOH) said.

However, DOH officer-in-charge Ma. Rosario Vergeire explained that the reported cases should not affect the full implementation of face-to-face classes since most are mild cases.

The new cases were recorded from Sept. 1 to Nov. 3, according to the DOH’s surveillance report.

“‘Yon pong benepisyo na naibibigay ng face-to-face classes would outweigh the number of mild infections that had been experienced by our students during these past months that we have opened up schools,” Vergeire said.

She noted that face-to-face classes are “very essential” for the mental health of students. 

— Ronald Espartinez