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19 students, 4 teachers in Mati test positive for Covid-19

By Che Palicte

October 17, 2022, 5:07 pm

DAVAO CITY – Some 19 students and four teachers in various schools in Mati City, Davao Oriental, have tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) since the start of face-to-face classes in August.

Ben Jason Tesiorna, Mati City information officer, said of the total, only four remain as active cases.

“Two recovered yesterday and right now, only four active cases were noted. It was not specified if it is a student or teacher,” Tesiorna said in an interview on Monday.

Some 1,020 close contacts have been tested, he said, adding that the majority turned to be negative while the others have recovered.

Based on the Mati Incident Management Team (IMT), Tesiorna said the schools with positive individuals were in Barangays Badas, Sainz, Matiao, Central, Lawigan , Dahican, Don Enrique Lopez, and Don Salvador Lopez.

IMT head Dr. Ben Hur Catbagan Jr. said most of the patients have undergone home quarantine as they were asymptomatic.

“The infection was immediately controlled because we coordinated with the school officials as well as the barangay,” he said.

As part of existing policy, Catbagan said the classroom with Covid-19 positive students or teachers were closed for five days for disinfection.

All close contacts were also advised to undergo home quarantine and continue their lessons through modular learning until they have fully recovered.

Catbagan urged parents of children exhibiting symptoms to let them rest at home, inform the school, and seek telemedicine assistance for testing and treatment.

“Once children have recovered from their symptoms, those who are unvaccinated must seek vaccination and enforce infection prevention and control measures,” he added.

Catbagan also reminded the teachers to do symptoms check of all students daily and isolate symptomatic children and refer to healthcare workers after notifying parents for testing, treatment, and other support services offered. (PNA)

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