Classes in NegOr suspended due to sore eyes

Local

CLASSES in the Province of Negros Oriental were suspended on Friday, Aug. 7, due to surging cases of conjunctivitis or sore eyes.

Governor Manuel Sagarbarria issued an Executive Order (EO) canceling classes in all levels of public and private schools.

In the same order, the governor directed all school heads, administrators, and responsible officials of public and private schools to utilize the suspension period to conduct disinfection and sanitation measures within their respective educational facilities and campuses, particularly in classrooms, offices, comfort rooms, clinics, handrails, chairs, learning materials, among others.

The order came upon the recommendation of the province's Integrated Provincial Health Office, following a reported increase in cases of sore eyes in several areas in Negros Oriental.

This is also the province's step to minimize close-contact exposure among learners, teachers, and non-teaching staff in schools.

"The temporary suspension of classes will reduce person-to-person exposure, allow affected students and personnel to rest and seek medical attention, and give schools adequate time to undertake cleaning, disinfection, and sanitation of classrooms, toilets, corridors, learning materials, and other frequently touched surfaces," the Aug. 5 EO read.

Sagarbarria ordered that school administrators and school heads may adopt alternative learning, make-up classes, or other administrative arrangements consistent with the laws and other regulations, provided that the health of students and teachers remains the priority.

The governor also advised parents, guardians, students, non-teaching personnel, and the public to observe proper hygiene and infection prevention measures, such as handwashing and refraining from close physical contact, among others, to avoid contracting conjunctivitis.

Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital issued a public health advisory about conjunctivitis, urging its constituents not to believe in myths about the eye infection and to follow health protocols to prevent its spread.

If symptoms such as redness of the eye, swelling, tearing, and itchiness, with pus or mucus in the eyelashes, especially after sleep, appear, medical consultation was lso advised.

Sore eyes or pink eye is a common term for conjunctivitis, an acute and infectious eye condition that may spread quickly through close physical contact, shared surfaces, and common facilities.(MyTVCebu)