Face-To-Face Classes May Spike COVID-19 Deaths Says ADB Study
FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES – According to the Manila-based Asian Development Bank, conducting in-person classes in the first quarter of 2021 may result in an 8% spike in COVID-19 deaths.
Despite the lowering of the number of daily cases, the COVID-19 threat is still prevalent in the Philippines. As such, news of in-person or face-to-face class dry runs drew major concerns.
Recently, President Rodrigo Duterte approved of going through dry runs for face-to-face classes next year. As such, the Department of Education began preparations for in-person classes in low-risk areas.
Based on their published report, fully resuming face-to-face classes could possibly result in an 8% spike in coronavirus mortality rates compared to present levels. According to an article from Inquirer, the ADB stated that the:
overall mortality from COVID-19 from school opening is about 1,500 lives nationally, or around an 8-percent increase from the cumulative value simulated if schools were to remain closed
However, the ADB also revealed that suspending in-person classes could potentially cost P1.9 trillion in missed economic opportunities. This urged the Philippines’ economic chief to promote a gradual resumption of classes done with safety as the priority.
Furthermore, the report said that even though children have higher contact rates in schools, they also have lowered susceptibility to the virus. Additionally, it said that children become infectious for shorter periods and have lower infectivity compared to adults.
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