DOH: Plastic barriers OK in schools but other precautions also needed

Photo shows a student and teacher at the Mary Perpetua E. Brioso National High School in Tigbao, Milagros Masbate with select schools returning to physical classes after the pandemic disrupted in-person learning in the Philippines in 2020.

Release / Department of Education

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health has retained the use of plastic barriers in classrooms as select public schools returned to in-person learning on Monday. 

Pilot sites for physical classes had to be retrofitted following guidelines from DOH and the Department of Education. This included putting up plastic barriers around students, which raised questions since the government no longer requires plastic barriers in jeepneys. 

Health Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire told a weekly briefing that the use of plastic barriers in jeepneys was discontinued because they were shown to be ineffective. She said passengers sometimes moved the barriers and the plastic sheets sometimes hit them in the face.

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/11/15/2141465/doh-plastic-barriers-ok-schools-other-precautions-also-needed