LESS THAN one percent of medicine and allied health students participating in limited face-to-face (F2F) classes in UST have contracted Covid-19, the UST Health Service said.
In an interview with the Varsitarian, Health Service Director Dr. Sheryl Dionisio said only 10 out of 1,959 or 0.51 percent of students have caught the disease.
“Kasi we have a layering of mitigation strategies naman in place for the limited face-to-face classes. Hindi naman tayo basta basta lang nag-start. So, we hope na nakatulong ‘yong mga mitigation strategies na ‘yon,” she said.
Also, 2.5 percent or three out of 116 participating faculty members tested positive for Covid-19, but not necessarily because of the F2F classes.
“So far, wala naman tayong infection na within… During class merong very few lang din. Hindi mo kasi maiiwasan ‘yun (infection) e, and it doesn’t mean na nasa University naman nakuha ‘yun kasi iba-iba naman ang pinanggagalingan,” Dionisio added.
Dionisio said there were no Covid-19 outbreaks among participants of in-person classes.
“Usually, nagaaverage lang tayo ng one to two cases per week, minsan wala pa,” the health director said.
Dionisio said the Health Service could provide emergency medical assistance to students if they develop symptoms of Covid-19 while inside the University.
“Nandito naman ang Health Service. We are open. And actually, although we don’t encourage naman talaga ‘yung physical na pupunta sila dito, meron din tayong online consultation na puwedeng i-offer,” she said.
These online health consultations are also open for Thomasians in online classes.
Before being allowed to rejoin the F2F classes, infected students need to secure a medical clearance from their doctor or a certificate of quarantine completion.
The Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Pharmacy and College of Rehabilitation and Sciences began conducting limited F2F classes in June, while the College of Nursing started their limited in-person classes on Nov. 8.
