UP Experts Recommend Suspending Classes Until December 2020

Experts from the University of the Philippines (UP) have given to the government their recommendation of suspending classes until December 2020 in order to slow down the spread of COVID-19.

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UP Resilience Institute executive director Mahar Lagmay presented in a press briefing this Tuesday the model prepared by the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team. He explained that the study shows that social interaction is highest among people under the 0 to 19 age bracket (56%).

This is followed by people aged 20 to 39 (29%), 40 to 59 (13%) and 60 and above (2%).

“Kapag tayo ay walang klase hanggang December, at ito po ay nirerekomenda, ay malaki ang maibabawas natin sa transmission ng COVID-19,” Lagmay said.

[If we don’t have classes until December, and this is being recommended, there would be a huge reduction in the transmission of COVID-19.]

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque clarified that President Rodrigo Duterte has not yet made a decision regarding the resumption of classes.

“Malaki po ang maitutulong sa pagbagal ng pagkalat ng sakit kung isu-suspinde ang mga klase hanggang college level,” Roque conceded. [It would be a big help in slowing down the transmission if classes are suspended until even the college level.]

“Although meron din isang eksperto na nagsabi kagabi na ‘aalahanin po n’yo na kapag sinuspend n’yo ang klase wala ring medical students na maga-graduate’ sa panahon na kailangan din natin ng mga medical graduates, tsaka ‘yung mga nursing graduates,” he continued.

[Although there was also one expert who said that if we suspend classes, there will be no medical nursing students who will graduate at a time when we need them.]