A THOMASIAN doctor has called for the suspension of classes until May to further flatten the curve of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) infections.
Dr. Benjamin Co, a pediatrics infectious diseases specialist at UST Hospital, told the Varsitarian that social distancing was the most important factor in decreasing transmission of infection.
This will be difficult to do in campuses, he said.
“The most difficult people to control is children, and the youth,” he said.
As for when classes should resume, Co said it would depend on the impact the lockdown would create in the next few months.
Co said more data was needed to evaluate the outcome of the lockdown, emphasizing the need for a “flattening the curve,” which, in epidemiology, means slowing a virus’ spread among people at any given time.
“Anything that keeps rising is a bad indicator in many aspects,” he said.
“The virus is here to stay. As how bad it will get, it will be a wait-and-see scenario,” he added.
Co suggested a “long-distance learning” alternative to compensate for missed school days.
On April 7, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of Inter-Agency Task Force of the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to extend the enhanced community quarantine over Luzon until April 30.
